Nothing is More Important Than the Safety of Your Child!
Health safety children toys, safety marks children toys,child safety
with toys
There is no dearth of stores and online
toy shops offering toys for your child! The number just goes
on growing, considering that toy manufacturers keep coming up with more
and more attractive innovations each year! Of course, they are supposed
to follow the guidelines stated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC). These guidelines are for all age groups, and manufacturers do
label the toys according to the ages they belong to. Imported toys, along
with those made within the country itself, have to comply with CPSC standards;
this rule came into effect after 1995.
Now, toys do provide a lot of fun and entertainment for children, but
they can also prove dangerous as observed from rising hospital admissions.
There are umpteen kids treated for wounds and injuries resulting from
bad handling of playthings. Children below three years tend to have choking
symptoms, since they shove any and every object into their mouths.
It is not the CPSC alone that is responsible for the safety of children.
You, as a parent, need to be more responsible too. For instance—
(1) Brightly-painted toys need to have had lead-free coatings of paint.
Your child is not to be exposed to lead poisoning via these toys.
(2) Playthings covered with fabric should mention that the material is
flame retardant or flame resistant.
(3) Purchase paints and crayons only after checking what is written on
the packages. The label should mention ASTM D-4236, meaning that the American
Society for Testing Materials has examined and certified it.
(4) Toxic art materials are to be avoided, unless non-toxic is mentioned
on the label.
(5) If you get stuffed toys, make sure that they can be washed. They
will get dirty with continuous play. And your child needs clean toys to
play with, since he or she has the tendency to chew on everything.
(6) Some toys are too loud and can result in hearing loss. Your child
should be made to understand why you prefer to stay away from certain
noisy rattles, squeaky toys, musical toys and electronic toys.
(7) It might be tempting to go in for hand-me-downs which older members
of the family pass on to younger ones. But do remember that these playthings
have already been used very often and may be worn out. Also, they will
not meet present safety standards. Should they break, they can prove hazardous.
(8) If you have doubts regarding any toys, look up the CPSC website.
Toys that have been recalled will be mentioned there. You can even call
them up directly via their hotline (800-638-CPSC).
(9) Once you get the desired toys for your child, also teach him/her
how to use them. If you stay with your toddler while playing, for a few
sessions at least, the child will realize how best to handle the toys.
(10) Ensure that the toys are always put away in their proper places
after play. Outdoor toys should be stored in a damp-free atmosphere so
that they do not get damaged by rain or snow.
(11) Do check your child’s playthings once in a while. There should be
no broken parts or broken toys; discard them immediately or repair them
right away. Some common things to check for include—rust on bikes or outdoor
toys; splinters on wooden toys; and exposed removable parts or broken
seams on stuffed toys.
(12) Cleanliness is very important for your child. Since chewing is a
habit with toddlers, dirt will enter the mouth too if toys are unclean.
Check out the directions provided by manufacturers first, before you wash
playthings. Some plastic ones can go into the dishwasher straight away.
Others can be sprayed and rinsed. Take a spray bottle and fill it with
hot water mixed with antibacterial soap or a mild dishwashing detergent.
Apart from toys, it is imperative to keep your child away from hazardous
things like matches, fireworks, balloons that have not yet been inflated,
broken balloons, and sharp scissors. Ensure that these are kept in safe
places that cannot be reached.
Well, now that you have taken all the necessary safety precautions, let
your child have a good time!
