Toy Safety
Choose toys with care. Keep in
mind the child's age, interests and skill level.
Look for quality design and construction in all
toys for all ages. Make sure that all
directions or instructions are
clear −− to you, and, when appropriate, to the
child. Plastic wrappings on toys should be
discarded at once before they become deadly
playthings. Be a label reader. Look for and
heed 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. Maintaining Toys
Check all toys periodically for breakage and
potential hazards. A damaged or dangerous
toy should be thrown away or repaired
immediately. New toys are much cheaper than
hospital bills. Edges on wooden toys that
might have
become sharp or surfaces covered with
splinters should be sanded smooth. When
repainting toys and toy boxes, avoid using
leftover paint, unless purchased recently, since
older paints may contain more lead than new
paint, which is regulated by CPSC. Examine
all outdoor toys regularly for rust or weak
parts
that could become hazardous. Storing Toys
Teach children to put their toys safely away
on
shelves or in a toy chest after playing to
prevent trips, falls and broken toys. Toy
boxes, too, should be checked for safety.
Use a toy chest that has a lid that will stay
open in any position to which it is raised, and
will not fall unexpectedly on a child. For extra
safety, be sure there are ventilation holes for
fresh air. Watch for sharp edges that could cut
and hinges that could pinch or squeeze. See that
toys used outdoors are stored after play
−− rain or dew can rust or damage a variety of
toys and toy parts creating hazards. Sharp
Edges
New toys intended for children under eight
years of age should, by regulation, be free of
sharp glass and metal edges. With use, however,
older toys may break, exposing cutting edges.
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