Make Sure Toys Are Age-Appropriate

Check the label before buying a toy, and throw away packaging after purchase. Toys for older children should be kept separate from toys for younger children. Children can suffocate on thin plastic bags, or choke on peanut-style packaging.

Avoid Choking Hazards

Children three years of age and younger should only play with toy parts larger than the opening of a toilet paper roll. Never give balloons or small balls to young children—balls for children under six must be larger than 1.75” in diameter. Children should not play with toys that run on watch-sized “button” batteries, because they also present the risk of choking and fatal internal injury from battery acid.

Don't Allow Children To Play With Magnet Toys

When swallowed, high-powered magnets attract to each other inside the digestive tract, causing ulcerations, bowel blockage and severe infection. Most injuries involve young children, but injuries to teens have also been reported. Powerful earth magnets intended for use by adults, such as those in office supplies, pain relief products and office desk toys, should also be kept away from children.

If It Sounds Too Loud, It Probably Is

Some toys produce sound at levels equivalent to a lawnmower, which is loud enough to cause permanent hearing loss. Listen to new toys when purchasing them, and be especially careful when buying cap guns, talking dolls, toy cars with horns and sirens, walkie-talkies, instruments and toys with cranks.

Don't Allow Children To Play With Long Cords or Strings

Mobiles should be kept out of reach, and removed from the crib when the baby begins to push him/herself up. Ribbons or cords attached to toys should not be longer than 12”. Clothing with drawstrings should not be purchased if it could become hooked on a fixed object.

Find Out If Toys Contain Toxic Chemicals

Healthystuff.org has chemical content ratings for more than 5,000 products. Healthystuff.org tests for BPA (bisphenol A), NPEs (nonylphenol ethoxylates), lead, arsenic, hazardous flame retardants and many more classes of toxic chemicals. Home lead testers are sold at hardware stores, and can be used to test costume jewelry, metals and paints. Also, consider if the toy is heavy enough to fall on the child.