Choosing Safe Toys for Christmas

by Whitney Henrie
Child Advocacy Specialist

My 5-year-old nephew was writing a letter to Santa recently. It went something like this:

“Dear Santa,

I have been good. How’s Mrs. Santa? How are the elves? Now, can we get to the list?”

He then proceeded to write a very long list of toys that he would like to see under the tree on Christmas morning.

Like my nephew, I’m sure that your kids have a pretty good idea of what they’d like to get this holiday season, but it’s important to keep safety in mind when shopping for toys. Each year, many children are treated in hospital emergency departments for toy-related injuries. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when shopping for toys:

• Toys made of fabric should be labeled as flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Stuffed toys should be washable.
• Painted toys should be covered with lead-free paint.
• Art materials should say non-toxic.
• Crayons and paints should say ASTM D-4236 on the package. This means they’ve been evaluated by the American Society for Testing and Materials and found safe.

It is also important to make sure the toy you buy is appropriate for your child’s age. Many toys have labels on them with a suggested age range but use your best judgment and consider your child’s temperament, habits, and behavior when you buy a toy.

Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:

• Think large. Make sure all toy parts are larger than your child’s mouth to prevent choking or other injuries. Be sure if you are buying a small toy for an older child that it stays out of the reach of younger children.
• Avoid toys that are too loud and could cause damage to your child’s hearing.
• Stay away from toys with sharp edges or points and toys with cords and strings. The cord can become wrapped around a child’s neck, creating a strangulation hazard.
• Electric toys should be UL approved. Check the label to be sure.
• If you buy your child a bike, scooter, skateboard or other toy they can ride, make sure you also get them a helmet and the proper protective gear.
• Do not buy toys that contain powerful neodymium magnets. These can cause serious injury and death if ingested. It’s also important make sure that if a toy contains small “button” batteries, that they cannot be easily removed from the toy and swallowed.

You can check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website for the latest information about toy recalls or call their hotline at (800) 638-CPSC to report a toy you think is unsafe.

When it’s time to “get to the presents,” I hope that the children in your life will find fun and safe toys under the tree this year.

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Whitney has a degree in Health Promotion from Weber State University. She has been working in the Child Advocacy Department at Primary Children’s for almost 2 years. She is a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and loves the opportunity she has to help educate others about injury prevention. Whitney loves to read, travel, and spend time with her family.