Babies (0-1 years old)
Buying toys for kids is a tricky thing to do. You want to buy something cute, colorful and safe. Sometimes we get so caught up in the cuteness and color of the toy and forget the safety measures we should take. Here are a couple of safety measures you should never forget.
1- Look out for sharp corners.
Keep in mind that babies like sticking things in their mouths, ears and eyes. If you buy a toy that has sharp corners, it will be dangerous to your baby. Therefore, run your fingers around the toy you think of buying to check for sharp corners.
2-Look out for the length of strings and cords.
When playing, kids do the strangest and mindless things. Sometimes, they put things in their mouths and swallow or even put them around their necks. Therefore, if you buy a toy that has long strings, you might be putting your kid n greater danger.
3-Go for large toys.
Considering the fact that children have a tendency of putting stuff in their mouths, buying small toys increases the risk of them swallowing or chocking on them. Therefore, when buying toys, the bigger the better.
4-Look at the label, read it, heed it.
The labels have to say non- toxic. They also have to give you instructions of what to do and what not to do. Do not just read the instructions though, obey them. This is the only way to keep your child safe. If the label does not say non- toxic, don’t buy it.
The stuffed toys have to be washable. With time, these toys gather dust. The last thing you want is to have your kid allergic to the stuffed toy you bought him/ her.
Toddlers (1-3 years old)
Toys are very important in the life of your child. They actually form part of the child’s development. There are very many different types of toys on the market today for you to choose. Even though toys make your kid’s life enjoyable, they can also be dangerous. Toy related injuries are so common today with the number increasing in emergency departments of hospitals every year. It is for this reason that as a parent you need to be careful and take into consideration certain safety precautions when buying toys for your toddler.
These precautions include:-
- supervision
- Toy size and weight
- Age of the child
- Type of the toy
- Buy from a reputable company
Always supervise your toddler and their play areas. Check the toy carefully for loose parts and sharp edges before buying it. You should also always read labels to ensure that the toy is appropriate for your child’s age, physical ability and maturity. Most toys have a recommended age sticker on safety consideration hence you should check it out before buying.
Also look at the size of the toy. Toys should be large enough to avoid them being swallowed by the toddler hence causing chocking which is a common risk when it comes to children under the age of three years.
The type of the toy is also a key safety consideration. In case of a battery operated toy, ensure that the battery case is secure with screws so that your toddler cannot open it. Remember that batteries can cause serious injuries such as chocking, internal bleeding and burns. Riding toys need to have safety harnesses ans be stable to prevent tipping. Go for a toy that is strong and does not have sharp ends or small parts that can be pulled loose.Be guaranteed of quality, buy from a company that you trust, one that has a good reputation for safe and reliable toys.
Kids or Young Children (3-10 years old)
Your babies are growing up fast. The age that they are attracted to objects. For them its play time. As a parent you owe to make play time for your kids one of the moist memorable time in their lives. However, along comes the responsibility to make sure that it does not turn out to be a horrific experience.
When you walk into ‘Toy World’ or any other toy shop, you have to put in mind safety first for your kids. And if you are shopping for toys with your kids around , don’t just respond by grabbing off the shelves what they point out to you whinning. There are safety considerations that you make when buying toys for your kids.
Safety precautions are majorly broken into :
- Physical
- Chemical
- Hygiene
- Electric
- Flammability
These are the main classes of toy hazards. You have to put this in thought for play time for your kids to be safe.
How old is your child? You cannot purchase toys that are not in correspondence with your kids’ age. Relate how old your child is and the toys to buy. Toy manufacturers are labeling toys to your aid. The age suitable for particular toys. The labels also state precautions that are a guide.
Kids below 4 years are in the tendency of placing objects in their mouths. Avoid getting small toys that can easily be ingested or fit thru the nose and ears. Toys that can be disintegrated to small parts are not favourable for your small babies of this age.
Take into consideration the following as well:
- Toys with sharp edges are not safe for your child. They cause cuts, stings and pricks.
- Painted toys should be non-toxic, lead free and chip free. Lead is toxic and could therefore cause transpiratory diseases to your child. The child can also ingest the chipped pieces.
- Materials of the toys should be flame resistant. To avoid your child or your house in flames easily be on the look out for flame retardant labelled toys.
- Be careful of the material itself. Probably your child is allergic to some materials composed in the toys.
- Battery operated toys. The battery compartment should be sealed properly and not with ease of access to your child. Batteries are of toxic interior. If damaged and your child is in contact it can cause poisoning.
- Electric toys should be non-hazardous and be recognised as genuine. The wires closed to avoid electrical accidents.
- Beware of strings and ribbons that are more than 9 inches long. Your kids could entangle themselves and be strangled.
- For tricycles, bicycles and all such toys for the older kids be sure to purchase correct working ones and protective gears as helmets and knee guards.
More Detailed look into Safe Materials for Babies
Choosing the right materials for baby toys is exceedingly important these days. It seems that not a week goes by without some reports about toxins in baby toys and the subsequent product recalls that will leave a lot of parents terribly worried. Babies will chew on anything, and their immune systems and livers are too underdeveloped to really defend against toxins in the body properly. The right toys fabric and materials can make all the difference in the long run when it comes to their growth, development, and short and long-term health.
Wooden Toys
Wooden toys have existed for a long time, and they are safer than a good portion of the toys that babies will play with today. As long as the wood is not rotten, it also should not make a good home for bacteria. While parents should make sure that the wooden toys do not have any sort of toxic finish, wood is overall a safe and environmentally friendly choice for the composition of a baby toy.
Organic Cotton
When it comes to toys fabric, it is difficult to go wrong with organic cotton. This is a purely natural fiber, and it will lack a lot of the toxins that people will often find with fabrics that are partly made from plastic in one way or another. Many parents will also find that organic cotton has a more pleasing texture than many other toys fabric, so their babies will be able to benefit from it in more ways than one. It is perfect for the sensitive young skin of babies. Parents should be able to find dolls, stuffed animals, and doll clothing made from organic cotton.
ABS Plastic
Some parents may be concerned that they will have to give up plastic toys altogether to make sure that their babies are safe. Plastic toys are durable and easy to clean, so this may represent a bigger sacrifice than some people may imagine. However, manufacturers are creating types of plastic that are free of BPA, phthalates, and PVC, including acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or ABS plastic. Most of the toys that are made from ABS plastic will be advertised as such, so they should be easy for parents to find.
Rubber
Sometimes, it is better to go back to the basics when it comes to safe materials for baby toys. Toys that are genuinely made from 100 percent rubber will not contain BPA, lead, vinyl, and PVC. Parents who are looking for sporting equipment for their kids or related items should try to find balls that are made from rubber, although plenty of figurines and dolls will also be made from rubber.
High-Density Polyethylene
Parents who are looking for another very safe plastic should look into baby toys made from high-density polyethylene. Many milk jugs are made from the same exact material, so parents will often already be trusting this material around their babies. Lots of toys that are made from recycled materials are also made from high-density polyethylene, so parents will be making a very environmentally friendly choice.
All these safety considerations and any other hazard should be assessed when buying toys for kids. Buy toys from recognized outlets such as Amazon. Play time for your kids will be emergency free. Make it safe for your kids.
