The Hazards of Children’s Toys
Parents often worry that the toys they buy their children are not safe. And they have good reason to be concerned and a large number of toys on the market still are not built in a safe way, although thankfully more and more are these days due to tighter manufacturing regulations. However, parents still need to be careful and below we highlight some of the important things to look out for to ensure toys are safe.
Sharp edges. It is imperative that toys do not have sharp edges, even if they are made from seemingly soft materials. As children frequently run with their toys and play with them in a rough manner, picking up a cut or a jab from a sharp-edged toy is very easy.
Small parts. This is probably the most well known hazard of children’s toys. Because of their inquisitive nature, children often put small things in their mouth and can sometimes swallow or even choke on them. Sometimes toys don’t have small parts on first inspection, but break up easily due to weak materials and these are equally, if not more dangerous.
Chemicals. Whether it is dangerous chemicals in plastics, harmful fluids in toys, or simply toxins in the paint that they are decorated with, kids can be seriously harmed by inconsiderate materials. Thankfully most toys are tested thouroughly for dangerous chemicals, but some will always slip though the net.
Mechanical Hazards. Some toys might not seem dangerous at first glance but their pure functioning poses a risk to children. Toys that work using elastic or springs can sometimes harm kids eyes if they are poor quality and break for example. Also a toy might have a hinge or shutter that children can get fingers trapped in for example.
All toys and Christmas gifts should comply with the health and safety regulations of their respective countries, so next time you’re buying gifts for her or him look out for the endorsement logos on the toy’s label first.
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