When kids play with toys, all they know is fun and happiness. When we watch our kids play with toys, all we think about is “is it safe?” You may feel worried when your child is playing because you want to make sure they are doing it right and safely. This is very important if you just had a child. To help you get rid of this anxiety, we have compiled together a list of tips that you should remember whenever you are online shopping for toys for your kids.
THINK LARGE. This is the simplest trick in the book. The younger your kid is, the larger his or her toy should be. When toys are larger and have very few separate parts, you will prevent any choking hazards for your kids, and you will be more confident in watching them play. Some toys safe for teething toddlers should be much larger than the child’s mouth, so that there is no danger of the toy ending up inside their mouths.
READ LABELS. Labels are essentially your best friend when it comes to toy shopping. Turn the side of the box to carefully read the label if the toy is a choking hazard or if it comes with parts that can pose a choking risk to your kids. Toy labels also indicate the material it is made of so you can tell if it is safe for light nibbling or chewing by your kids. Let us be honest, kids put everything in their mouths, so definitely choose toys made of safe materials.
NO ELECTRIC TOYS. Absolutely no electric-operated toys when your kids cannot multiply 8 and 7 yet. Your kids will not be able to distinguish between a safe toy or one that can electrocute them or perhaps burn them. This is such a dangerous toy to even have in the house. Choose the manual bikes or the balance bikes instead of the electric-powered toddler cars. The Kinderfeets trike are infinitely safer and bigger, plus they help develop your child’s motor skills on a whole other level.
NO LEAD CONTENT. If you have toys that are hand-me-downs from your parents or grandparents, some of these toys may still have lead content that is extremely harmful to kids. Toys made before 1978 may have used coloured paint with lead content, which is a harmful substance for kids and adults alike. If you do have antique or mint toys, make sure that the material and make are safe for kids even when they attempt to put it in their mouths.
As a general rule, toys other than teething toys should not be put anywhere near your child’s mouth. However, we cannot guard our kids every second of every day. There are always going to be slip-ups in terms of them finding the opportunity to taste, lick, or nibble on whatever toys they find. It is better to be safe than sorry and choose the safest, age-appropriate toys for your little ones.
CONCLUSION
Remember all these tips before you go online shopping for toys for your own kids or for the kids of a close friend. You can never be too careful when picking a toy for a child, especially for a child below four years old.
