How to Make Sure Your Children’s Toys Are Safe
Toys are a crucial part of a child’s learning and development, as well as plenty of fun. However, each year, many children are hospitalized due to toy-related injuries. Toys should be manufactured with safety in mind, but toys that are faulty, broken, or used incorrectly can become hazardous. Manufacturers have strict guidelines to follow, for example, most toys are labeled for specific ages.
Product liability
When we purchase a toy, we expect certain standards and procedures to be followed, ensuring the safety standards are in place. Unfortunately, some companies may cut corners during production, and neglect following safety procedures before the product is sent to be sold to customers. This can be incredibly dangerous, particularly with children’s toys. If you’ve been involved in an incident caused by a dangerous product you may want to get in touch with a lawyer, such as a product liability lawyer, to understand if it’s possible to hold the company responsible for the incident.
Choosing the right toy for your child
Toys are graded by age using guidelines that reflect the safety of the toy. The guidelines take into consideration any choking risks, abilities of children at different stages of development and the physical ability a child needs to play with the toy. It’s important to follow this age-grading system when choosing a toy for your child. Soft or stuffed toys (made of fabric) should be washable and clearly labeled as flame resistant or retardant. Art material should be non-toxic and painted toys should use lead-free paint. It is safest to avoid old or vintage toys as these may not meet current safety standards.
Toy safety in your home
It’s important to supervise children when using a new toy and ensure they understand how to safely play with them. It’s also important to regularly check toys to make sure they are functioning correctly and be sure to keep them clean at all times.
Hazards to be aware of
Be aware of toys with small parts as these can be a choking hazard. Children under the age of three are particularly at risk of choking as they tend to put toys in their mouths. Make sure you check the noise volume on a toy where loud noises can damage a child’s hearing. Regularly check for damage, if a toy cannot be fixed then recycle it if possible or throw it away. Make sure your toys are put away and stored in a safe place when not in use. For more information on toy safety click this link.
It’s crucial to understand the guidelines and risks associated with a new toy. Make sure your child understands how to play safety. If a toy has an instruction booklet, read it through with the child (if they are old enough to understand), then keep hold of the instruction booklet for future reference. There are so many toys to choose from and at a glance, it’s hard to know whether a toy is safe or not. By following the recommended guidelines, purchasing age-specific toys and monitoring play, you should be able to understand which toys are suited to which children and therefore keep them safe when they play.
Image by Esi Grünhagen from Pixabay
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