What to Pay Attention to When Thinking About Toy Safety?

All children play, from the moment they start grabbing, all through their childhood. They play with their parents, they play with themselves, but they also play with toys. Toys play a very big role in children’s lives, both at home, and at various summer day camps for kids in Poway.

And toys are beneficial. Toys can boost the development of your child’s sight, they can benefit social play, and they might even mitigate stranger anxiety. But, however grand toys are, and they truly are, you have to pay attention to one important thing - toy safety.

Why is toy safety so important?

It just is, there really isn’t that much more to say about it. You’re children are going to be playing with them, and it is paramount that the toys you buys for your kids are completely safe for them to be around. Institutions such as San Diego Center for Children place high importance on toy safety, and it is not a matter any parent should ignore.

Yes, toys can be fun, they can be interesting, they can be beautiful to look at and nice to the touch, but if they’re not safe for your children, chances are they can do more harm than good. That is why we want to repeat that you should always make sure your child’s toys are completely safe. Now, let’s see how you can do so.

How do you know if a toy is safe?

Although it sounds like a difficult ordeal, determining a toy’s safety is actually quite easy if you follow this little checklist of ours.

1. The right age - Make sure to read the appropriate age for a toy, and be certain it is the right age for your child.

2. Read the labels - Carefully read all the warning labels so as not to miss any potential hazards.

3. Check points and edges - No toy can be considered safe if it has sharp points or sharp edges, especially those for young children.

4. Avoid small parts - Even though small parts are essential in more complicated toys intended for bigger children, if your child is still small, avoid any toys consisting of small parts.

5. See if it’s strong - Brittle toys break easily, leaving small pieces and shards your child can accidentally swallow.

6. Is it loud? - There are many toys that produce sound, but you have to be sure that the toy is not to loud, as it can damage the hearing of young children.

7. Any magnets? - Nowadays, magnets in toys are quite safe, encased in plastic and firmly attached to the toy. However, if the magnet is flimsily joined to the toy, there is reason for concern as it can break off, becoming an unwanted item for your child to swallow.

8. Check online - Do online research to see whether or not the toy you are thinking of buying has been recalled by the government. If so, it is unsafe.

9. Is it toxic? - When buying art supplies, crayons, or toys filled with liquids, always check to see if the items contain any potentially toxic materials. Which brings us to our next point.

What materials should not be used to make a toy?

Again, we’re going to give you a list of the most harmful materials currently used to make toys worldwide, and ones you should take great care to avoid.

1. Lead - Lead poisoning is a serious matter, as it can lead to growth and learning delays, kidney damage, and more. That is why you should avoid toys with lead in them at all cost. However, good news is that Congress has passed the law which greatly reduces the amount of lead in toys.

2. Plastic from China - Not to sound xenophobic, but scientists have confirmed that toys mass produced in China contain massive amounts of lead paint, which is completely unhealthy. Luckily, most toy stores feature lists with toys not made in China, so you can feel safe taking your pick.

3. PVC - As widely used as it is, as many harmful chemicals it contains, such as vinyl chloride, phthalates, dioxin, and many others, which have been linked to allergies, reproductive problems, and asthma. Unless there is a label stating “PVC-free” on the toy, or there is a #3 on it, stay away from it.

4. BPA - This harmful chemical can be found in many children-intended products, even though it is linked to obesity, cancer-cell growth, and attention disorders. If you spot a #7 on a toy, it probably has some BPA in it, so you’d be best to move on.

“Where can my children play with completely safe toys?”