Toy Safety
Are your child's toys appropriate for them? Here are some safety tips to keep in mind as they're playing.
- Make sure your child is only playing with age-appropriate toys and keep toys separate if you have children of multiple ages playing together.
- Have an adult open any new toy(s) before giving them to the child to play with and look for any removable accessories (wheels, small accessories, etc.).
- Refrain from buying water beads and buckyballs (little magnetic balls). If swallowed, water beads can swell and cause bowel obstructions. Buckyballs can cause a bowel perforation if swallowed.
- Avoid toys with easily accessible button batteries. Button batteries can cause necrosis (tissue death) if swallowed.
- Keep toys with small accessories out of reach from small children and make sure an adult is always present when playing.
The Hard Facts about Toy Safety
In 2016, 174,100 children under the age of 15 years were seen in emergency departments for toy-related injuries.- That’s 477 kids every day. Almost half of those injured were children 5 and under.
Top Tips about Toy Safety
- Consider your child’s age when purchasing a toy or game. Read the instructions and warning labels to make sure the toy is just right for your child.
- Check to make sure there aren’t any small parts or other potential choking hazards before you settle on the perfect toy.
- Separate toys by age and keep a special eye on small game pieces that may be a choking hazard for young children. Toys intended for older children may pose a risk to younger, curious siblings.
- Use a bin or container to store toys when playtime is over. Make sure there are no holes or hinges that could catch little fingers.
Learn more at SafeKids.org
