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Toy Safety: A Guide for Children of Different Ages
by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P.
reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Selecting just the right toy for a child can be fun and rewarding--if you are not confused by the bewildering array of possibilities! About 2 billion toys and games are sold annually in the United States. Most are safe, but each year well over 100,000 children are treated in emergency rooms--and more than 10 die--from toy-related injuries. This is a sobering thought, especially as the holiday season approaches, but the good news is that many of these injuries can be prevented by following some basic toy-safety recommendations.
Although the list of toy-safety don'ts can seem daunting because it is so long, most parents find that the warnings are pretty straightforward. For the most part, they are just a matter of common sense combined with a realistic assessment of their children's abilities and interests.
All ages
The following safety considerations should be kept in mind when giving toys to children of any age:
- Children should only be given toys that are intended for use at their age or younger.
- Toys should be durable enough to withstand use and abuse by children of the age for which they are intended.
- They should have no rough or sharp edges, corners, or points.
- They should be made of materials that don't leave jagged edges that can injure children if the toys break (e.g., glass, brittle plastic).
- They should not create any risk of electric shock, fire, or burns.
- The label should indicate that they do not contain toxic materials, and the amount of lead (e.g., in paint) they contain is minimal, if there is any.
- Balloons
They may be found at many children's parties, but the sad fact is that latex balloons cause about 7 to 10 deaths each year in the U.S. They are particularly dangerous when they are uninflated or broken into pieces; if inhaled, they can completely cover a child's airway and suffocate him. Children under the age of three years are at highest risk, but children under the age of eight should never be permitted to play with a balloon without close supervision. Also, children should never be permitted to inflate or deflate balloons. If you want your child to have balloons, consider Mylar balloons, which do not cause choking as easily as latex.
To learn more about specific concerns at different ages, see our sections on infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children.
Infants
Special safety considerations for babies one year old and younger include:
- Small objects. Objects less than 1.75 inches (44 mm) in diameter should be kept away from infants; in fact, they should be kept away from all children under the age of four years to prevent choking. If an object can fall through the center of a roll of toilet paper, it is too small to give to an infant or young child. In fact, safety experts maintain that any toy or object that can fit in a child's mouth is too small to be safe, including some foods such as grapes, pieces of hot dogs, raisins, and carrots.
Check to see that rattles, squeeze toys, and teething rings are large enough so they can't get stuck in a baby's throat. Stuffed toys should have strong seams and no removable eyes, buttons, or other small pieces. Any internal noisemakers in stuffed toys should be large enough and sturdy enough so they don't present a choking or other hazard if they come out of the toy. If you can't tell for sure what is inside a toy, it is probably safer to keep it away from an infant. The label may help you determine whether or not the toy is safe for your child.
- Cords and strings.
- The length of strings, cords, ribbons, or loops on toys (including mobiles) should be less than 14 inches to prevent strangulation.
- Never tie anything around an infant's neck with a string (including small toys or pacifiers).
- Crib mobiles and gyms should be removed from the crib when the baby reaches five months or is able to push up on her hands and knees (whichever comes first).
- Toys in cribs. Do not put stuffed animals or any soft bedding bedding materials (e.g., quilts, comforters, and pillows) in cribs because they may lead to suffocation.
- Construction. Toys should not have hinges or other parts that can pinch or trap small fingers, toes, or hands.
- Electrical parts. Infants should not be exposed to toys with electrical parts because of the risk of electric shock, burns, or fire.
Toddlers (one- and two-year-olds)
- Small objects and cords. The precautions used to prevent choking and strangulation for infants mentioned above also apply to toddlers.
- Construction. In addition to the precautions for infants mentioned above, large toys should be strong enough for children to stand on and in. No toys should have sharp points or edges. They also should not be made with nails, wires, or any other sharp object that could be exposed by the child.
- Ride-on toys For young toddlers (one-year-olds), these toys should have four or more wheels spaced widely apart, and the child's feet should touch the ground when she is seated.
- Electrical toys. Use of any electrically powered object should be supervised by an adult. Batteries that can fall out of toys pose a hazard of acid leakage to young children if they put the batteries in their mouths, and small round batteries (e.g., watch batteries) are particularly easily swallowed.
- Dolls and stuffed toys. For young toddlers (one year), dolls should not have hair, moving eyes, or jointed limbs.
- Arts and crafts. Scissors should have blunt edges, not sharp points. Check to see that paints and crayons are nontoxic by looking for the designation "ASTM D-4236" on the label. This shows that the product has been reviewed by a toxicologist and, if needed, has the appropriate warnings on the label.
Safe storage. Toy storage chests with heavy lids should have a safety latch to keep the lid open in any position when raised so that it cannot fall on the child.
Preschool children (three- to five-year-olds)
- Small objects. Children this age are still at risk of choking, and they should not be permitted to play with small objects (see above).
- Electrical toys. Use of any electrically powered tool or toy should be supervised by an adult because of the risk of electric shock, fire, and burns.
- Arts and crafts. Children under six should only use blunt scissors. Be sure to check that their paints and glue are nontoxic.
- Sleds. Sleds should not have steering equipment or handbrakes because the children are not old enough to use these features.
Swimming pool toys. Pool toys should be used only with adult supervision to make sure that they don't become a drowning hazard.
- Projectile toys. Toys with soft and flexible projectiles, action figures with projectile weapons, or guns shooting ping-pong or foam balls may be appropriate for children beginning at age five.
School-age children (6 to 12 years)
- Electrical toys. Use of any electrically powered tool or toy should usually be supervised by an adult.
- Arts and crafts. Children six and over can use regular scissors. Be sure that paints and glue are nontoxic.
- Bicycles. To determine the right-sized bike, have your child straddle a boy's bicycle with both feet on the ground.
- Protective gear. Appropriate helmets and other protective gear should be used with bikes, skates, and other sports equipment.
- Motorized vehicles. Children 12 and under should not be permitted to handle motorized scooters, Go-Peds, ATVs (All-Terrain Vehicles), riding mowers, or other motorized ride-ons that require consistent judgment about speed and safety.
- Science and chemistry kits. Be sure that you and your child read the label and instructions carefully to avoid injury.
- Projectile toys. Children eight years and under can play with action figures that are 5 to 7 inches tall with projectile weapons as well as those indicated for preschoolers. Children eight and oldercan use water-pressure rockets, but they should be at least 12 before being given combustion rockets.
- Toy guns. All toy guns should be brightly colored so that they cannot be mistaken for a real gun. Children should be at least 11 before being given cork guns.
- BB guns. These are not toys. They cause death and permanent injuries including blindness. Many experts feel that if children are given BB guns, they should be at least 16 years old.
Toy recommendations that take safety into account
Two excellent publications that incorporate safety recommendations with many useful age-appropriate toy suggestions have been prepared by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). They are: Which Toy for Which Child Ages Birth Through Five, and Which Toy for Which Child Ages Six Through Twelve.
Other resources
Other resources on toy safety include the following:
- Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC provides excellent, up-to-date information on toy recalls as well as general information about safety on its website at www.cpsc.gov. In addition, it provides a toll-free hotline (1-800-638-2772) and an email address (info@cpsc.gov) for reporting dangerous products or product-related injuries.
- Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) provides good information on toy safety at www.toysafety.net.
More information
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Created November 29, 2001
Reviewed November 29, 2001
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