Our Top 10 Toy Safety Tips For Babies

Tip #1: Check for recalls.  As parents, it falls to you to ensure that the toys your baby plays with are totally safe and our number one most important piece of advice for parents regarding their baby’s toys is to know which toys have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.  You never want to take a chance with your baby’s safety and checking a toy’s safety record is your first line of defense against accidents, choking, and other hazards that could potentially harm her.  Keeping up-to-date on the latest news on toy recalls may sound daunting, but once you subscribe to some of the watchdog websites and blogs, they will forward you email alerts.  And it’s especially imperative that you check when you’re buying toys from a resale store or inheriting older toys from family or friends.

Tip #2: Adhere to age guidelines indicated on packaging.  The ages are researched, tested, and deemed appropriate for your baby by toy professionals.  You can trust their judgment.

Tip #3: Do a “toilet paper tube test.”  Anything that can pass through the tube should be considered too small to be given to a child under 3.

Tip #4: Check if any part can be bitten, ripped, or broken off.  Think: buttons, noses, toy car doors, etc.

Tip #5: Avoid any toys that have a string, ribbon, or cord longer than 6 inches.  Think: pull-toys, drawstrings, doll bows, etc.

Tip #6: Avoid toys with sharp points, edges, or toys that launch parts off of it.  Babies will be putting all their toys in their mouth at some point, during their first year.

Tip #7: Avoid toys with a decibel level higher than 100 because it can be harmful to a child’s hearing.  100 decibels is the equivalent sound to: chain saw, pneumatic drill, printing plant, jackhammer, speeding express train, some car horns, or farm tractor — sounds incredibly loud but you’ll be surprised at how loud some toys can be!

Tip #8: Avoid older painted wooden toys altogether.  The paint most likely contains lead and is therefore toxic to your baby.  If you inherit a keepsake toy, display it on a high shelf but don’t let your baby play with it.

Tip #9: Conduct periodic reviews of any toys 3-4 times a year.  You want to ensure that they are still in working order and age appropriate.  Think seasonally: Halloween, Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, and the 4th of July. And please consider donating any toys your baby has outgrown to charity.

Tip #10: Put your toys away, everyday!  Create toy storage spaces in all the rooms they’re used.  Tripping over toys is a hazard for everyone in the home.  Make clean-up a habit from the beginning, even when your baby can’t really help yet.

One Last Tip: Have so much fun together playing with your baby!