Little Tyke

Don’t let your toys kill your kids

To ensure the safest shopping experience for all consumers, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have been working at the ports to track down and stop dangerous toys from finding their way to store shelves. While the government is doing its part to protect young children from hazardous toys, parents and grandparents can contribute to their families’ safety by being educated shoppers.
CPSC recommends using the following tips to help choose appropriate toys for children:

* Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards to younger children.

* For infants, toddlers and all children who still mouth objects, avoid toys with small parts, which could pose a fatal choking hazard.

* Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly-secured eyes, noses and other potential small parts.

* For all children under 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.

* Do not purchase electric toys with heating elements for children under 8.

* Be a label reader. Look for toy labels that give age and safety recommendations and use that information as a guide.

* Check toy instructions for clarity - for both you and, when appropriate, the child.

* Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys, which can cause suffocation, before they become deadly playthings.