Toys are the treasures of childhood, but they can be hazardous. Consider the year 2007: Toy-related injuries killed 18 children and sent an estimated 170,100 to hospital emergency rooms, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Ask yourself these questions when choosing toys for your baby, and consider sharing them with anyone who may be buying gifts for your child.
• Could it be a choking hazard? Until your child turns 3, toy parts should be bigger than his or her mouth to avoid the possibility of choking. To determine whether a toy poses a choking risk, try fitting it through a toilet paper roll. If a toy or part of a toy can fit inside the cylinder, it's not safe.
• Is it too heavy? Could your baby be harmed if the toy fell on him or her? If so, pass.
• Is it well put together? Make sure tails are securely sewn, seams of stuffed animals are reinforced, and paint isn't peeling. Stuffed animals should also be free of buttons, yarn, ribbons, and anything else your child could yank off and put in his or her mouth.
• Is it in good condition? Used toys passed down from older relatives or siblings or bought at yard sales can be worn or frayed, which can sometimes pose a danger. Examine all new or used toys for buttons, batteries, ribbons, eyes, beads, and plastic appendages that could easily be chewed or snapped off. And check our Recall Finder to make sure hand-me-down toys haven't been recalled.
• Is it suited to your child's developmental level? Most toys bear a "recommended age" sticker, which should be taken as a starting point in the selection process. Be realistic about your child's abilities and level of maturity when choosing an age-appropriate toy.
• Does it have a string or cord longer than 12 inches? A cord can too easily be wrapped around a young child's neck, causing strangulation. Important: Once your child can climb up on his or her hands and knees, remove crib gyms and hanging mobiles from the crib.
• Does it contain small magnets? Small, powerful magnets are often used in toys, and may fall out of the toy and be swallowed by a child. Two or more swallowed magnets (or a magnet and a metal object) can be attracted to each other through intestinal walls, causing serious – or deadly – injuries. The CPSC recommends keeping toys with magnets away from kids under 6 years old.