Toys can help keep infants entertained and stimulated, and they can also help infants learn basic skills such as coordination and movement. Unfortunately, some toys pose a safety hazard for your children. Keep your kids safe by reviewing their toys and removing any that could be dangerous. Additionally, call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission regularly at 800-638-2772 to make sure that none of your infant's current toys have been recalled for safety issues.
Toys With Small Parts
Toys with small parts create a choking hazard since babies are prone to putting everything in their mouths. The Ohio State University Extension advises avoiding any toy with parts that measure 1.25 inches or smaller. This includes toys with small detachable pieces.
Torn Stuffed Animals
During playtime, an infant may tear the seams in a cloth toy or stuffed animal. Many such toys contain small pellets. The Colorado State University Extension recommends inspecting soft toys regularly to make sure that there are no tears that may release such pellets, which act as choking hazards.
Non-Washable Toys
Toys should be easily washable, according to Brigham Young University. This allows you to keep them clean to prevent your child from getting sick as he plays with the toys or puts them in his mouth. Toys not easily washed can experience a buildup in bacteria and dirt.
Balloons
Long a fixture at parties and other festive events, balloons should never be playthings for your infant. More children choke and suffocate on balloons than on any other toy-related choking hazard, according to the University of Missouri Extension.
Electric Toys
Some toys operate on batteries and other electrical elements that may heat up. Electric toys with heating elements are unsuitable for not only infants but for all children under the age of 8, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This prevents the risk of inadvertent burns, to which the sensitive skin of young children is especially susceptible.
Painted Toys
Lead is an extremely toxic metal that can be absorbed through ingestion, breathing and skin contact. Toys painted before 1976, or those manufactured outside of North America, often contain lead in the paint.
