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There are some things that you need to think about before you choose a toy to buy for your child. You’ll want to make sure the toy is age appropriate and whether or not it is safe. When it comes to toys there are hidden hazards that a lot of parents, grandparents, etc… don’t even realize. The following are some tips to keep in mind so you can be guided in the right direction of toy safety when picking things out for your child.

Read Warning Labels

You’ll want to not only make sure you read the complete warning label with the toy you’re buying but also make sure to follow them completely. The warning labels will warn against things; such as, if there is a choking hazard for younger children (most typically being under the age of 3) due to both small and removable parts and ones that can come loose. Any electric toy will also have a warning label.

Check the Toy for Edges

It is critical for you to make sure to check every toy you buy or your child plays with for any sharp or pointy edges. This is even more important if you have a younger child as they are more likely to have a tendency for putting things into their mouths or near their eyes. Additionally, no matter what the age there is always the chance for a child to fall on top of a toy which could cause a severe injury.

Check for Cords or Strings

If they toy you are looking to buy has any attached cords or strings then you’ll want to make sure that they aren’t too long since there is always a potential danger of the cord or the string getting into a loop which would post a potential strangulation hazard to the child

Avoid Small Parts

You should never buy a toy that has a small, loose part or anything that can come unattached from the toy for a child that is at least 3 or under though you’ll of course want to be worried about safety for any child. The younger children do have a higher likelihood of putting things into their mouths and swallowing them which of course poses an extreme danger. You’ll want to make sure to check for the loose parts; such as, eyes, ears, noses, etc… that can be pulled off.

Check for Strength and Sturdiness

You’ll want to make sure that the toy is built of a both strong and a shatter proof material. Should the child fall or have an accident the toy shouldn’t be one that would break into a lot of pieces and have sharp edges that would potentially cause harm to the child.

Check for Loudness

If you purchase a toy that is a sound enabled one you’ll want to check the levels of noise and make sure that they are tolerable and that it at least has a volume control. If a toy is too loud it can permanently damage the hearing of the child as the hearing of a child is very sensitive.

Check for Toxicity

For toys like, art supplies, crayons or any toy that contains liquid you’ll want to make sure they don’t contain any toxic chemical. You’ll want to look at the labels to make sure that they’d be safe just in case there is any accidental ingestion by the child.

Check for Recalls

There are various sites on the internet that you can check for any recalls. You’ll want to check the Consumer Product Safety Commission.