April 2007
Tips for toy safety
Keep toys intended for older children away from your baby.
- Look for warning labels on a toy’s package. If the label suggests that the toy may pose a choking hazard, don’t give that
toy to a child under 3.
- Only buy toys deemed appropriate for the age of your child. Don’t assume your little Einstein is ahead of the curve or that
buying more advanced toys will enhance your child’s development. Age grading relates to the safety of the toy as well as its
play value.
- Check all toys for breakage and potential hazards each time you give them to your baby. If they can’t be repaired, throw them
away.
- Keep all balloons and broken balloon pieces away from your baby; they’re a major choking hazard.
- Keep toys out of your baby’s crib, and when your baby can begin to push up on his hands and knees (about 6 months), remove
all mobiles.
- Never place an activity gym in a crib or playpen. Never add strings or ties to the gym.
- Keep all small round or oval objects, including coins, balls, and marbles, away from your baby. Use a common cardboard tube from a roll of toilet paper to screen out choking hazards. Any part small enough to pass easily through the tube is a hazard.
