Toy Safety - An Interactive Tool

As you choose gifts for young children, it is important to keep safety in mind.

“Although most toys are safe, they can become dangerous if misused or if used by children who are too young to play with them,” said Paul Granoff, M.D., a pediatrician with Rush-Copley Pediatrics. “By reading labels and being safety conscious, you can help prevent toy related injuries.”

The following tips will help you choose appropriate toys this holiday season and all year round:

• Purchase toys that are age appropriate and fit the ability of the child
• For infants and small children, avoid toys with small parts, which could pose a fatal choking hazard
• Look for sturdy construction, including tightly secured eyes, noses and other small parts
• Avoid toys that have sharp edges and points
• Discard plastic wrappings on toys as these can cause suffocation.
  

Look for Lead

When shopping for toys, make sure your purchase is not on one of the recent lead toy recall lists. Lead is used in two aspects of toy manufacturing — paint and plastic.  Lead is invisible to the naked eye and has no smell. Children may be exposed to it from products through normal hand-to-mouth activity by placing toys, fingers, and other objects in their mouth.

If you suspect that your child has been exposed to a toy containing lead, remove the toy immediately. Most children with elevated blood lead levels have no symptoms and the only way to tell is to have a blood lead test.  Your physician can help you decide whether a test is needed and can recommend treatment if your child has been exposed.

Check out the possible hazards found in toys in your home and safety suggestions to help keep your children safe.