Toy Safety--Identifying High-Risk Situations
Scooter injury is the most common cause of toy-related injury and death.
Toys to avoid
The following toys are not appropriate for infants:
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Toys that hang in cribs and playpens with strings longer than seven inches
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Toys that are small enough to become lodged in an infant's throat
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Plastic wrapping from toys, which itself is a suffocation hazard
The following toys are not appropriate for children ages 3 and under:
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Small toys or toys with removal parts that can become lodged in the child's throat (for example, a stuffed animal with loose eyes, game pieces, batteries, or marbles)
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Toys with breakable or loose parts (for example, toys with small wheels, or action figures with removable pieces)
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Latex balloons
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Plastic wrapping from toys, which itself is a suffocation hazard
Infants and toddlers should never be given toys with any of the following:
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Parts that could pull off
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Exposed wires
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Parts that get hot
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Painted lead paint
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Toxic materials
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Breakable parts
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Sharp points or edges
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Glass or brittle parts
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Springs, gears, or hinged parts that could pinch or trap fingers
The following toys are not appropriate for children ages 8 and under:
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Toys with sharp points or edges
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Electrical toys with heating elements (for example, a toy oven set)
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Toys that contain toxic substances (for example, certain art sets)
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Toys that can trap fingers
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Shooting and/or loud toys (such as bb guns, cap guns, or air guns)
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Toys that may contain lead paint (usually older toys purchased at garage sales or flea markets)
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Toys that do not adhere to U.S. safety standards
A special safety note about walkers
The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages the use of walkers for the following reasons:
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Babies in walkers can fall over objects or fall down stairs, and may roll into pools, heaters, and hot stoves.
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The use of walkers is associated with poisoning, especially in infants under 9 months of age. The walker puts a young infant at a level where they can reach household chemicals before they are mobile, and before many parents have baby-proofed their homes.
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These devices do not facilitate walking or faster or advanced mobility and may actually hinder certain motor development skills such as pulling-up, crawling, and creeping.
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Walkers give babies extra momentum to break through barriers such as safety gates, resulting in thousands of head injuries each year.
Note: Many manufacturers now make stationery walkers that allow babies to sit in place. These are a safer alternative to the moveable walkers. However, many physicians still believe that all walkers are unacceptable. Consult your child's doctor for more information.