December 15, 2008

Safe Toys and Gifts Month

By Melanie Huett, MS, RD, LD, WIC RD Nutrition Educator

The holiday season is when most toys and games are purchased, so December has been set aside as safe toys and gifts month. Play is an important part of a child's development because it helps children learn. Most toys are safe, but they become unsafe if misused or given to children who are too young to play with them. Some toys may not be appropriate for all age groups.

Falls and choking cause the majority of toy-related injuries and deaths in children. Choking alone causes one third of all toy-related deaths, usually from balloons. Children 4 years old and younger account for almost half of all toy-related injuries and almost 90 percent of deaths. Children younger than 3 years old are at the greatest risk of choking because of the small size of their airways and the tendency to put objects, especially toys, in their mouths.

Dangerous Objects for Young Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises keeping the following items away from infants and young children to reduce the risk of choking:

latex balloons
coins
marbles
toys with small parts
toys that can be compressed to fit entirely into a child's mouth
small balls
pen or marker caps
small button-type batteries
medicine syringes

The good news is that the majority of toy-related injuries are minor. The National Safe Kids Campaign, along with the National Safety Council, have made some recommendations for selecting safe toys for children.

Tips for selecting safe toys

Consider the child's age, interests, and skill level
Look for quality design and construction
Follow age and safety recommendations on labels
Use a small parts tester, also known as a choke tube, to determine whether small toys may present a choking hazard to children ages 3 and under. The tube is about the same diameter as a child's windpipe. If a toy can pass through the tester, then it is too small for children this age and can cause them to choke if swallowed. Small parts testers can be purchased at toy or baby stores, but an easy and free way to tell if a toy is safe is to use the cardboard core of a toilet paper roll.
Avoid toys with sharp points or edges, and projectiles, such as darts
Avoid toys with strings, straps, or cords longer than seven inches. These toys may post a risk of strangulation for young children.
Avoid electrical toys with heating elements for children under 8 years old.
Avoid cap guns that use caps that can be ignited by friction because they can cause burns.
Avoid latex balloons to eliminate the risk of choking or a latex allergy reaction.

Tips to keep children safe from toy-related injuries

Inspect toys regularly for damage and potential hazards. Make necessary repairs or throw away damaged toys.
Watch children during playtime to keep them safe from toy-related injuries.
Use toys in a safe environment.
Teach children to put away toys safely after playing.

Toys can sometimes be recalled for safety reasons. Check the National Safe Kids Campaign website www.safekids.org or the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website for updates and information on recent toy recalls or call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-CPSC to report a toy you think is unsafe. The CPSC closely monitors and regulates toys. Any toy made in or imported into the United States after 1995 must adhere to CPSC standards.

Choosing safe toys:

Toys made of fabric should be marked as flame resistant or flame retardant.
Stuffed toys should be washable.
Painted toys should be coated with lead-free paint. Toys that are red, orange, or yellow may me more likely to test positive for lead because lead makes paint brighter.
Art materials should be nontoxic.
Crayons and paints should say ASTM D-4236 on the package, which means that they have been evaluated by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
Don't accept older toys. These toys may not meet current safety standards and may be worn from play making them more likely to break and become hazardous.
Make sure toys are not too loud for children. The noise from a toy can contribute to hearing damage if it is put too close to the ear.

The right toys at the right ages

Always read labels to make sure a toy is appropriate for a child's age. Guidelines published by the CPSC and other groups can help you make buying decisions. Consider your child's temperament, habits, and behavior whenever buying a new toy.

Think Prevention

Children younger than 4 years old should stay away from eating foods that are easy to choke on, including nuts, raw carrots, popcorn, chewing gum, and hard candy. One should cut food, like hot dogs and grapes, into small pieces.
Make sure children sit down, take small bites, and don't talk or laugh with their mouths full when eating.
Pick up anything off the floor that might be dangerous to swallow, like deflated balloons, pen caps, coins, beads, and batteries.
Keep toys or gadgets with small parts out of reach.
Learn how to do abdominal thrusts and CPR, which usually are taught as part of any basic first-aid course.

The best way to keep your child safe while playing with toys is to be there.

Sources: www.kidshealth.org; Safe kids USA