It’s that time of year when kids receive new toys and gadgets. As you’re making your lists and checking them twice, Safe Kids and WakeMed Children’s offer some helpful safety advice.
Consider the child’s age when purchasing a battery-operated toy or game.
Battery-operated toys could pose a serious risk to young children. Toys and games that require batteries should be in a battery case, secured with screws and, preferably, hidden out of sight. Thousands of children are hospitalized each year after ingesting button batteries or lithium coin batteries. These small, round, shiny batteries are very appealing to young children and pose imminent danger when swallowed or caught in a child’s ear or nostril.
Lithium coin batteries, in particular, generate a current that produces a harsh corrosive called sodium hydroxide. If the battery ends up somewhere inside the body, this chemical will burn a hole in that spot, typically leading to infection. The result is injury, illness, lifelong disability or even death.
If you suspect your child has ingested a battery, go to the hospital immediately.
Read the instructions and warning labels.
It’s important to make sure the toy is right for the child’s age and developmental stage.
Of note is the noise level of toys. The level set by the National Institute of Occupational Health & Safety for mandatory hearing protection is 85 decibels. Yet, numerous toys exceed this safe noise levels. A toy louder than 85 decibels can cause permanent hearing damage since most children play with noisy toys by putting them right up to their ears.
Check that there aren’t any small parts that could become potential choking hazards.
According to KidsHealth, to avoid toys being swallowed or getting lodged in a child’s windpipe, toys, in general, should be at least 1¼ inches in diameter and 2¼” inches in length. Circular toys, however, including balls, coins and marbles should have a diameter of at least 1 ¾ inches.
Children often chew on toys, so it’s important that toys are strong and do not have any breakable parts.
Other choking hazards include toys with the following:
- sharp ends or small parts like eyes, wheels or buttons that can be pulled loose
- small ends that can extend into the back of a baby’s mouth
- strings longer than 7 inches (18 centimeters)
Never let a child under the age of eight blow up balloons or latex or vinyl gloves. When inhaling, these products could pop without warning and get lodged in the throat.
Separate toys by age.
Keep a special eye on small game pieces that may be a choking hazard for young children. Toys intended for older children may pose a risk to younger, curious siblings.
Use a bin or container to store toys when playtime is over.
Toys appropriate for some children, may be inappropriate for others. Designated toy bins help ensure that toys are returned to their proper spot and are kept in an out-of-reach location for children for whom certain toys may pose a safety risk.
Make sure there are no holes or hinges that could catch little fingers.
When a child’s little finger is caught in a toy, the child could suffer injury, bruising or circulatory issues.
Keep rider safety first.
Make sure children wear properly fitted helmets made for each riding toy anytime they use bicycles or other equipment with wheels. ATVs and four-wheelers can be extremely dangerous and should not be used without proper safety training and protective gear.
For younger children who ride in wagons or enjoy rocking horses, make sure there are safety harnesses or straps available. Also, check that the toy is stable and secure enough to prevent tipping over.
FACT: Hundreds of children are treated each year at WakeMed for toy-related injuries, including ingestion of or choking on toy parts as well as bicycle and four-wheeler injuries.
Proceed carefully with homemade toys.
Be very careful with homemade toys. These do not go through rigorous safety protocols, so they could pose serious risks to children.
Check for small holes that could catch little fingers, breakaway pieces that a child could choke on. Also, if the toy is painted, ask what kind of paint was used since lead paint can damage the brain and nervous system; slow growth and development; and cause learning, behavior, hearing and speech problems.
Sign up to receive product recalls.
Stay up to date on toy recalls. Safe Kids compiles product recalls specific to children and sends twice-monthly e-mail alerts for recent recalls. Sign up for the latest recall information. Go to recalls.gov for additional information about product recalls related to kids.
Review updated guidance from NCPIRG in The 25th Annual Survey of Toy Safety. It explores the latest concerns and advice for policymakers.
Online Resources
WakeMed serves as the lead agency for Safe Kids Wake County, a nonprofit child safety advocacy group dedicated to preventing or reducing the severity of unintentional injury to children under 14 years old. They offer an array of online resources for a wide variety of injury prevention.
Additional Resources:
aap.org
healthychildren.org
zerotothree.org
