TOY SAFETY TIPS

UNDER 3 YEARS OLD Little children put everything in their mouths. –Be careful of toys with small parts. –Avoid toys with sharp edges and points. –Look for toys that are well-made. Choking danger! –Uninflated or broken balloons –Marbles, small balls or games with balls

AGES 3 THROUGH 5 Avoid toys with pieces that could break easily. Teach older children to keep their toys away from younger brothers and sisters.

AGES 6 THROUGH 12 Check toys frequently to make sure they’re not broken. If you buy a bicycle, buy a helmet too, and make sure your child wears it. If buying a toy gun, make sure it’s brightly colored, so that it’s not mistaken for a real gun. Teach all children to put toys away when they’re finished playing.

CHOKING HAZARDS Don’t buy small toys or toys with small parts for children under 3. Read and pay attention to warning labels. Never give young children small balls or balloons.

MAGNETIC TOYS Keep magnetic toys away from children under 6. If a child swallows more than one magnet, call your doctor right away.

NOISE Children’s ears are sensitive. To protect children from loud toys: –If a toy is too loud for you, it is too loud for your child. –Take batteries out of loud toys, or cover the speakers with tape.

STRANGULATION HAZARDS Keep mobiles out of reach of children in cribs. Remove them before the baby is 5 months old or can pull himself up. Remove knobs or beads from cords longer than one foot, so the cords don’t tangle into a dangerous loop.

TOXIC CHEMICALS Avoid toys made of PVC plastic; choose wooden or cloth toys instead. Read labels on play cosmetics; avoid products with “xylene,” “toluene,” or “dibutyl phthalate.”

LEAD Children’s health groups have found high levels of lead in some children’s jewelry. High lead can lead to delays in growth or death. Tell your children not to put their jewelry in their mouths.