Utah Valley Pediatrics strives to keep parents up to date on the latest health topics and advisories. Our newsletter covers medicine changes and news, pediatric news, seasonal and age specific topics and what’s new at Utah Valley Pediatrics.
Archives
Winter 2009
Vol. 2 Issue 4
Medicine Changes and News
You Can Protect Your Child from Rotavirus
Tips for Helping Children Handle Shots
Pediatric News
Studies Link Physical Activity with Better Academic Performance
Pressuring Children to Eat: Winning the Battle, Losing the War
Want to Make Your Children Happier, Healthier, Smarter and More Well-Adjusted? Eat Dinner With Them!
Having the TV on Disrupts Toddlers From Normal Play
Seasonal and Age Specific
Tips for Making Sure Your Child’s Toys are Safe
Contacts
Kevin Moffitt
Administrator
801-373-8930
Shalise Law
Manager
801-373-8930
Quick Links
Tips for Making Sure Your Child's Toys are Safe
Toys are a lot of fun and an important part of your child's development, but not all toys are harmless. Toys with small parts can be a choking hazard, and some toys may be made with dangerous material or can turn dangerous if broken. The best way to protect your children from toy-related injuries is to supervise their play. However, there are also some important guidelines you can follow to make sure that dangerous toys don't even make it into the hands of your child.
Age Appropriate Toys. Check labels to make sure the toy is age appropriate. With children under the age of three, be extra careful with small toys or toys with small parts. Choking is a big risk at this stage because children love to put things in their mouths. A good way to test the size of toys is with a choke tube (or in a pinch, the inside of a toilet paper roll). The tubes are the same size as a child's windpipe, so if an object fits in the tube, you know it is small enough to choke a child. If the object can be compressed down smaller, be sure to check it at that size too.
Avoid Older Toys. Toys made after 1995 must comply with standards set by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Toys made before that aren't held to the same safety standards. Plus, older toys are more likely to break from wear.
Toys Should Be Fire Resistant, Washable, and Nontoxic. Fabric toys should be flame resistant or flame retardant and stuffed toys should be washable. Toys should be painted with lead-free paint. Make sure art materials are nontoxic. Check crayons and paints for an ASTM D-4236 label. The label means that the toy has been tested by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
Avoid Toys That Make Very Loud Noises. Some toys are so loud that they can contribute to hearing damage, especially if your child holds the toy up directly to her ears.
Always Use a Helmet With Bikes, Scooters, Skateboards, and Skates. You can tell if helmets and other necessary safety gear meet current safety standards by checking for the CPSC or Snell certification on labels.
Check for the UL Label. Check electric toys for the UL label to make sure they meet the safety standards of Underwriters Laboratories.
Take Extra Care With Toy Weapons. Don't buy toy darts or arrows with hard points at the end. Make sure they have soft tips or suction cups. Also avoid toy guns that look too realistic; they can be mistaken for real weapons. Look for guns that are brightly colored and that look like toys. Teach your children to never point darts, arrows or guns at somebody, even if the weapons are just toys. Children under the age of 16 should not be given BB guns or pellet rifles.
For Infants and Toddlers, Avoid Toys That Are Unable to Withstand a Lot of Twisting and Pulling. Make sure that there aren't parts that could easily break off, like stuffed animal noses and buttons. Be careful with thin plastic toys; they can break and leave jagged edges. Also watch for toys with long strings. The strings can be a strangulation hazard.
Make Sure a Toy Hasn't Been Recalled For Safety Reasons. The National Safe Kids Campaign has a website at www.safekids.org that provides information about toy recalls.
Properly Maintain Toys to Prevent Breakage. It is a good idea to frequently inspect for splinters, broken pieces, ripped seams, and rust. Make sure nets on things like basketball hoops and other sports equipment are attached firmly. Poorly constructed or loose nets can be a strangulation hazard. If a toy is broken, either repair the toy or throw it away.
For more information:
Selecting Safe Toys for Your Child