Toy Safety Checklist for Little Ones
This toy safety checklist for little ones will help you figure out what to have in the house.
As a parent, I’ve seen my share of “dangerous” toys for infants and toddlers.
Many toys marked safe for kiddos actually present choking hazards — a huge problem for my kids who insisted on putting everything in their mouths despite my best efforts.
And even though some toys were noted as age appropriate, they really weren’t for my kids.
Toy Safety Checklist for Little Ones
This Christmas, with a little bit of know-how, you can easily vet out toys that may present a danger to your kiddo and make smart toy decisions.
General Toy Safety Checks:
☐ Always check the recommended age range on toy packaging
☐ Remember all children develop at different rates – your child may be old enough but may still need supervision
☐ Check toy recall lists regularly (see the CPSC – http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/)
What to Expect the First YearThe Simplest Baby Book in the World: The Illustrated, Grab-and-Do Guide for a Healthy, Happy BabyCribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool (The ParentData Series)Caring for Your Baby and Young Child, 7th Edition: Birth to Age 5
☐ Don’t hesitate to report a toy if you ever discover a safety problem with it
☐ Always avoid toys made with lead paint – now banned, but can still be found in second hand toys or foreign toys
Avoid These Toxic Substances:
☐ Lead paint – safety standards are in place, but some paint still contains lead
☐ Phthalates – now illegal in the US, but can be found in rubber ducks & balls
☐ BPA – avoid plastics number 3, 6 and 7
For Infants, Always Avoid:
☐ Toys with small parts that babies could choke on
☐ Toys with sharp edges
☐ Toys made using glass
☐ Attached parts that could be pulled off (e.g. an eye on a stuffed animal)
☐ Toxic materials (babies love explore by putting things in their mouths)
☐ Toys with string/ ribbon that could get caught around your baby’s neck
☐ Toys with slots, hinges or holes that could trap your baby’s fingers
☐ Toys filled with beans or other objects that could spill out and choke your baby
The Shit No One Tells YouThe Happiest Baby on the Block; Fully Revised and Updated Second Edition: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep LongerThe Montessori Baby: A Parent’s Guide to Nurturing Your Baby with Love, Respect, and UnderstandingBringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting (now with Bébé Day by Day: 100 Keys to French Parenting)
Rule of Thumb: All toys should withstand being put in your baby’s mouth!
Checking a toy in person can let you know that it’s suitable – check to see whether any sewed on parts are secure or could be pulled off by your child.
Like this toy safety checklist? Find more insightful parenting tips on Mommy Evolution!
Great list! Great post! So necessary and informative.
This is a great post with the holidays coming up. I will share this on my pages because it is very important.
What a thorough list! Thanks! I will share with my SIL who just had her first baby.
Thanks so much for this post!! This is a must read for everyone who has little ones. Happy Holidays and I hope everyone has a safe holiday.
Excellent list, I’ll be sure to pass this around to my friends with little ones.
Great list. Just one quick question: How strict are you with toy recommended ages? Some good advice my mom once gave me was not to get too hung up on the recommended ages (within reason of course):
http://hintmama.com/2013/10/02/todays-hint-dont-get-too-hung-up-on-toys-recommended-ages/
Thanks for posting this info! I pinned it to my “parenting”Pinterest board.
Thanks for this a really handy reference now I am about to start looking for new toys for L.
Pinned to Healthy Morkus
#pinitparty
This is a great resource especially with all the toy buying going on right now. Thanks for linking up with the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board!
This is a great reminder! I did so well when I had my first child but now that my littlest is 10 mths and my oldest is 4 years old, there are a lot of little toys hanging around! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing on Family Friday’s Link-Up Party!