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Keep safety in mind when holiday toy shopping

Parents often think it won’t happen to their children, but injuries from toys are a real concern, said Ravi Prakash, MD, Chief of Pediatrics at Backus Hospital.

And with the holiday toy season upon us, it is important to take safety into account when buying toys for children.

In 2005, an estimated 152,400 children younger than 15 were treated for toy-related injuries in U.S. hospital emergency rooms, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The majority of these injuries were not because of recalled or dangerous products – most involved choking or falls from riding toys.

“Parents need to pay attention to labeling and buy age-appropriate toys,” Dr. Prakash said. “Also, keep toys for older children away from younger children, and make sure they are supervised and put away properly.”

Also, be mindful of choking hazards by making sure toys don’t have small parts or parts that can be removed. Toys that can be pulled with a cord need be used with supervision, because of the strangulation hazards. Along those lines, Dr. Prakash reminds parents to remove any hanging items in cribs once a baby is able to reach them. “It is easy to overlook, but terrible things do happen,” he said.
The father of 7-year-old and 2-year-old girls, Dr. Prakash said when he purchases a toy he initially shows his children how to play with it and that gives him a chance to look at it closely as well. He reminds parents it is important to fill out any registration materials, so they will be notified if a recall occurs.

“Sometimes people get carried away and buy something as a gift they might not otherwise buy, because it is the popular toy,” he said. For example, when the scooters were popular, there were a lot of injuries. Also, he said he doesn’t recommend the shoes with wheels that pop out.

“You are just asking for trouble with these,” he said. “If they want to skate, learn properly and wear safety gear.”

Also, for parents looking for toys on the Internet, be careful as toys may not be labeled by age recommendations. He said sites such as DrToy.com list good toy ideas, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission lists recalls.

Jill White, a parent of 3-year-old twins and head teacher at the Mary Ellen Ross Childcare Center at Backus, said old-fashioned toys often offer creative play. For older children, toys such as Lincoln Logs or Tinker Toys give children a chance to build their own designs and use visual planning skills.

“People don’t really realize what kids are learning while they are playing, but even blocks offer physics and math lessons,” she said.

Craft ideas can include an easel and paint brushes, but children also can use sponges, rubber stamps and marbles to paint with.

Role playing also is important for learning social skills, so a pretend kitchen or washer and dryer gives kids a chance to re-enact everyday tasks.

Books are always a good choice and can incorporate other skills, such as cookbooks or activity books.

Safety tips for parents

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the child.
• Avoid toys with small parts, which could pose a fatal choking hazard for children who still mouth objects.
• Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly-secured eyes, noses and other small parts.
• Avoid toys that have sharp edges and points for children younger than 8.
• Do not purchase electric toys with heating elements for children younger than 8.
• Look for toy labels that give age and safety recommendations.
• Check toy instructions for clarity.
• Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys.

Source: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Check regularly for recalls at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov

See the 10 worst toys list from a nonprofit agency, WATCH, World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. at www.toysafety.org/worstToyList.html