Safety tips

Keep toys intended for older children away from your baby

Look for the manufacturer's recommended age range on the toy package—and take it seriously. A toy labeled for children older than 3 is definitely not suitable for younger children. A stuffed toy, for example, that says it's for a child older than 3 could have eyes that are potential choking hazards for a younger child. That is more than a friendly hint. It can alert you to a possible choking hazard, the presence of small parts, and other dangers. If you're buying a toy for a child older than 3 who has a younger sibling, also be aware of small parts because it's likely that the younger child will find a way to get the toy. You might want to limit your older child's play with such toys to areas of your home where the younger sibling is not allowed to go.

Do your own safety check

Although the voluntary standard for toy safety says that manufacturers should make squeeze toys and teethers large enough not to become lodged in an infant's throat, sometimes age recommendations can be difficult to find (or even nonexistent).

You can test an item for safe size by slipping it through the tube of a toilet-paper roll. If the toy passes through, it's too small for baby to play with. Also, look for anything that could be bitten or chewed off, such as hard, sewn-on parts like eyes, buttons, or wheels, and soft, small pieces, such as strings, ribbons, and stuffed animals' ears. All can be choking hazards.

Durability is another important factor. All baby toys should be unbreakable. Stuffed animals or any toys made of fabric should be washable and bite-proof. Pull on fur to be sure it won't shed, and check that fabrics are heavy enough to keep the toy's stuffing inside. Dyes should be colorfast.

With toys you already own, inspect them for breakage, chipped or deteriorated paint, and other potential hazards each time you give them to your child. If you find a problem, throw the toy away.

Keep all small round or oval objects, including coins, balls, marbles, and magnets, away from children younger than 3.

Keep all balloons and broken balloon pieces away from your baby; they're a major choking hazard.

Toy chests

Don't store toys in wooden chests with lids that can slam or automatically latch shut when closed, and hurt a child or cause suffocation. Chests designed specifically for holding toys have hinges or lid supports that will hold the lid open in any position to prevent such accidents. Open shelves or crates are safer and make it easier to find toys. Or look for a chest without a lid, or one that has ventilation holes that won't be blocked if the chest is placed against the wall, so a child can breathe if she gets trapped inside, or one that leaves a space between the lid and the sides of the chest to allow ventilation when closed.

Soft toys and mobiles

Keep soft toys out of the crib. They're a suffocation hazard for young babies and can be used as stepping stools for climbing out. If you buy a crib mobile, hang it out of your baby's reach. A mobile should be taken down when your baby can push up on her hands and knees, at about 6 months.

Toy safety standards

The CPSC regulates toys sold in the U.S., and toys must meet certain federal safety standards. For example, they must have acceptably low levels of lead in paint. They must not have sharp surfaces or points. Toys meant for children younger than 3 years old must not have small parts, such as small balls or marbles, that could pose a choking, ingestion, or inhalation hazard. Other items on the safety checklist: no pinching parts, no small wires that could poke through, and no strings, cords, or necklaces that could trap a baby's neck. Toys must not exceed flammability limits and they must contain no hazardous chemicals.

Teethers and squeeze toys must be large enough not to pose choking hazards. The same goes for rattles, which also must be designed so that they can't separate into small pieces. Labels on crib gyms and mobiles must warn parents to remove them when a baby can push up on his hands and knees (about 6 months).

In recent years, the CPSC has recalled numerous toys for various reasons—rattles with seams that opened during use, releasing a bell or small beads (choking hazards), and toy phones with push buttons and antenna that could detach (also a choking hazard). If you've had a bad experience with a toy, call the CPSC at 800-638-2772 or log on to www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Your call might lead to a recall. For more information about unsafe children's products, see our Safety blog.

See also:

Car seats

Strollers

High chairs

Cribs