Safety Tips for Toys With Infants & Toddlers
When it comes to toy safety for your infant or toddler, you are the best judge of your child’s developmental stage. Toys may be labeled for a certain age, but only you know your child’s learning behaviors and whether your child's learning style is oral, visual, auditory or a combination of multiple styles.
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Age-Appropriate Toys
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The Consumer Product Safety Commission conducts research to determine the age-appropriate level for toys. Most toys have a recommended age level listed on the box. Parents use these guidelines to purchase safe toys for their child’s age, but knowing your child’s capabilities is an important factor in choosing safe toys for your infant or toddler. Children develop at different speeds, and what is suitable for a 1-year-old child may not yet be appropriate for a different 1-year-old child.
Purchasing Toys
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In addition to looking for age-appropriate toys, look for toys with smooth edges without sharp or pointed parts. If the toy has moving pieces, check to see if the parts are securely attached and strong enough to handle repeated banging and dropping on the floor by the toddler. Any toys that come with small pieces should be examined to be sure a child cannot swallow or choke on the piece.
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Cleaning Toys
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Infants and toddlers inevitably put toys in their mouths, due to teething or just experimenting with new textures. Therefore, keep the toys clean and the play area clean. Sticky toys dropped on the floor may pick up lint, string, food particles and animal hair, all of which can be a danger to your child. Toys should be regularly washed with a solution recommended for babies and toddlers. A safe way to dry toys is to let the toys air-dry. Substituting washed toys for toys that need washing will provide variety in a child’s daily playtime.
Chewing Toys
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Toddlers and infants may chew toys because they are teething or they are experimenting with the new tastes and textures of different toys. Purchase toys labeled nontoxic if you have a child who consistently puts toys in his mouth. Any handmade toys should be decorated with lead-free paint. Also, inspect toys for small parts that can become loose and break off in the mouth. The child could swallow or choke on the part if it detaches from the toy. Particularly be careful with stuffed animals with button eyes. Most toy manufacturers label stuffed animals safe for certain ages. Board books and cloth or plastic books are firmer and not as easy to chew through as paper books.
Play Area
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Keep the play area free of the clutter of toys, allowing the children only a few play items at a time. Small toys can be easily tripped on or stepped on, causing a fall. Books scattered on hardwood floors can become slippery when stepped on and also cause a fall. Create a safe area to store toys. Secure a toy shelf so it doesn’t tumble onto a toddler when he is using it to stand and get a toy. Toys boxes should have lids that do not slam shut, where little fingers can get pinched. If older children are living in the home, have a separate area to store their toys.
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References
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