Dr. Toy’s Product Safety Tips

Dr. Toy outlines a dozen easy things to remember about toy safety, playing with children, and choosing new toys:

1. Specifically for parents with children under the age of six:
   Observe what the child is currently playing with in the home. (Particularly
   if there is an older sibling in the home.) The younger child may want to try
   products that are not age appropriate or have small parts. The child may
   also want to play with other small objects and put them in the mouth.
2. Look through your current toys at home. Get rid of any broken, chipped,
   or discolored products. And if a child loves a product so much that it is
   over used and dangerously worn-down, consider replacing it. Make sure the
   toys are kept in good repair and are cleaned regularly.
3. There are thousands of wonderful, safe products on the market that are
   made in the USA, China and other countries. You need to be mindful of the
   parts and components that are in the products you are selecting.
4. Watch for clutter in your child’s play areas. Are there products that
   are not being played with right now? Think about taking some items away for
   a month or two and then bringing them back into circulation. We call it
   “recycling the toy box.” Children will feel like they have new toys. Current
   items get good use and other items return as new finds.
5. Know your toy stores. Most retailers are very well informed and can be
   your best advocate for appropriately aged products that would fit a
   description of your child’s interest.
6. Knowledge of your toy store also helps in cases like recalls because
   they can be your best information on exactly what product or products can
   have a problem. They can also assist in a return policy if necessary. Toy
   store owners have a vested interest in protecting children and keeping their
   customers happy. They will try to help the consumer.
7. Read the labels on the packages. If clear information is not there, you
   should be wary. The information should be upfront and clearly visible about
   the age group and any other issues that may limit the use of the product to
   different demographics.
8. You can teach your children to use their toys appropriately; not to
   break them, or misuse them. Toys are designed for reasonable use. Beyond
   that is when hazards can occur. Children also need to learn to put toys away
   carefully and to use them safely.
9. Look for products that are appropriate for your child. In addition to
   the age range, many parents buy products that are higher ages than their
   child because they want their child to be more advanced. This can be its own
   hazard in that a frustrated child can act out and not perform to proper age
   appropriate behaviors, not just age appropriate skills.
10. Research for guidance, such as this list, and other product
    recommendations from reliable sources. Look for protection seals, award
    testing, and reputable organization’s recommendations.
11. If you have any doubts, contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission
    www.cpsc.gov there are available to help. See drtoy.com for the CPSC
    site and other resources.
12. Most importantly, if you have a child with a tendency to put things in
    the mouth, you must be extra, extra vigilant. Make sure toys with small or
    loose parts are either not used or carefully monitored. Also be sure that
    products are cleaned and disinfected, especially if your child attends
    childcare, babysitting, preschool or playgroup on a regular basis.

Dr. Toy Tips en español

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This entry was posted on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 10:38 pm. It is filed under Dr. Toy's Rx, Toy Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.