With the holiday season just around the corner, chances are there’s a lucky kid or two on your shopping list. Of course, you want what’s the most fun for them, but did you know that thousands of kids suffer from toy-related injuries each year? At People’s Trust Insurance, we care about the safety of the children on your shopping list. We realize that lots of toys seem harmless at first glance but can unexpectedly cause real damage to a child. Take a look at the tips we have gathered to help keep the ones most gentle to you safe this season and all seasons.
- Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills, and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
- Any toy you are purchasing for a child under age 3 should be non-toxic, have no sharp points or edges, be non-breakable, have no small parts, no electrical parts, and no glass.
- Any toy you are purchasing for any child should be non-toxic.
- Always use the right safety gear with activities, such as helmets, knee and elbow pads, and life jackets.
- Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
- To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age 10) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
- Young children can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under the age of three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
- Children can have serious stomach and intestinal problems – including death — after swallowing button batteries and magnets. In addition to toys, button batteries are often found in musical greeting cards, remote controls, hearing aids, and other small electronics. Keep them away from young children and call your health care provider immediately if your child swallows one.
- Children can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons; do not allow children under age 8 to play with them. Always supervise children that are playing with inflated balloons, as the ribbon can become a strangulation hazard.
- Don’t buy children under the age of 3 toys that have small parts; they can become lodged in the child’s throat.
- Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
- Don’t buy children under the age of 8 any toys with sharp points or sharp edges.
- Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.
- Parents should store toys in a designated location, such as on a shelf or in a toy chest, and keep older kids’ toys away from young children.
Source: Many of the tips in this article come from the American Academy of Pediatrics
This Blog is sponsored by:
People’s Trust Insurance Company