Baby Toys: Safety Comes First

When buying baby toys (for gifts or for your own child), choose them with care. Keep in mind the baby's age and interests as well as skill level. Look for quality design and construction in all toys.

Most manufacturers have labels on the box indicating the appropriate age for that particular toy. Heed all age recommendations, such as, "not recommended for children under three".

Look for other safety labels including, "flame retardant/flame resistant" on fabric products and, "washable/hygienic materials" on stuffed toys and dolls. Make sure that all the directions or instructions are clear to you.

To properly maintain toys, check them periodically for breakage and potential hazards. A damaged toy that has become dangerous should be thrown away or repaired immediately. Examine all outdoor toys regularly for rust or weak parts that could become hazardous.

Paints and varnishes for baby toys have to be non-toxic and colorfast, since everything finds its way into baby's mouth! Contact the manufacturers with any questions about a toy's ingredients. When repairing toys and toy chests, avoid using leftover paint, unless it has been purchased recently, since older paints may contain lead. Exposure to lead can result in lead poisoning causing serious damage to a baby's brain, kidneys, and nervous system.

Toys should not have any sharp corners or edges, rough surfaces, or sharp points. Run your hand over toys to make sure they are smooth. Wooden toys with edges that have become sharp or toys that have become covered with splinter should be sanded until completely smooth.

Pearl or beaded necklaces, ribbons and lace are unsuitable for babies. Babies can easily get tangles in them and choke. Also, toys with long strings, cords or loops can become wrapped around a baby's neck, resulting in strangulation. Make sure to remove mobiles completely from your baby's crib before he or she is five months old.

Small objects that babies can swallow, such as marbles, beads, balloons, small balls, many game pieces, barrettes and Lego blocks are also dangerous. They can become lodged in your child's windpipe, ears or nose and completely block their airway. To test the safety of a toy, invest in a truncated cylinder, which is a clear plastic tube that is available at many stores and allows objects to pass through it that are too small to be given to a child under three. Or, you can even use a toilet paper tube.

Foam rubber parts, modeling clay and other items that babies can tear or bite pieces from are dangerous. Balls and other toys made of foam-like materials may be hazardous if the baby bites off pieces and attempts to swallow them. The material has to withstand the baby's sharp teeth!

Make sure that stuffed animals are washable (so they won't become a breeding ground for germs) and that they don't have easily removable parts, such as eyes or nose. These parts could become dislodged and find their way easily into baby's mouth. Also, check squeeze toys and make sure they don't contain a squeaker that will detach, posing a choking hazard.

As for toy chests, use one that has a lid that will stay open in any position and will not fall unexpectedly on your baby or toddler. Be sure that there isn't a lid latch that could trap your child within the chest. When purchasing a toy chest, look for one that has ventilation holes or spaces in the front or sides, for fresh air. Watch for sharp edges that could cut and hinges that could pinch or squeeze.

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