Safe Baby Products

Toys

Whether your baby's toy is new, homemade, or a hand-me-down, it should not only be fun, but safe, too. All toys should be checked frequently for loose or broken parts.

What to look for:

• Always follow all manufacturers' age recommendations. Some toys have small parts that can cause choking, so heed all warnings on a toy's packaging

• Make sure the toy is unbreakable and has no sharp edges. It should be large enough that it can't be swallowed or lodged in the throat.

• It shouldn't have any small parts such as eyes, wheels, or buttons that can be pulled loose, and it should be strong enough to withstand chewing.

• There should be no parts that could become pinch points for small fingers.

• There shouldn't be strings longer than 7 inches.

• Hand-me-down and homemade toys should be carefully evaluated. They may not have undergone testing for safety. Do not give your child painted toys made before 1978; they may have paint that contains dangerously high levels of lead.

• Stuffed animals and other toys that are sold or given away at carnivals, fairs, and in vending machines are not required to meet safety standards. Check carnival toys carefully for loose parts and sharp edges before giving them to your child. Never give your child vending machine toys, which contain small parts.

SAFETY NOTE: Never give balloons to a child younger than age 8. A child who is blowing up or chewing on a balloon can choke by inhaling it. Inflated balloons pose a risk because they can pop without warning and be inhaled.

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