A great number of parents worry a lot about how the safe the toys they give their children are. And they have good reason to be concerned and a large number of toys on the market still are not built in a safe way, although thankfully more and more are these days due to tighter manufacturing regulations. However, parents still need to be careful and below we highlight some of the important things to look out for to ensure toys are safe.
Sharp edges. It is imperative that toys do not have sharp edges, even if they are made from seemingly soft materials. Children can often be rough with toys and run around with them, and all it takes is a fall or a snatching motion to cause a cut or skin-pierce.
Small parts. This is probably the most well known hazard of childrens toys. As children invariably love to put things in their mouth, they can very easily swallow small parts and choke on them. Also, toys that might not have small parts, but are fragile and can break up are just as dangerous to small children.
Chemicals. Whether it is dangerous chemicals in plastics, harmful fluids in toys, or simply toxins in the paint that they are decorated with, kids can be seriously harmed by inconsiderate materials. All toys should be tested for such things, but unfortunately some dangerous toys slip through the net.
Mechanical Hazards. Some toys might not seem dangerous at first glance but their pure functioning poses a risk to children. Children can easily be hurt for example by poor quality toys that use elastic parts or springs, when they come lose and hit them in the face. Additionally, toys sometimes have dangerous hinges or gates that children can trap finger in.
All toys and Christmas gifts should comply with the health and safety regulations of their respective countries, so next time youre buying gifts for her or him look out for the endorsement logos on the toys label first.