Toy safety is something that you want to make sure you keep in mind as the holidays approach. If you have children, then you want to ensure that any toys that you buy for them, as well as any toys that they receive from friends or family, are safe to use. Because a lot of people don’t realize that some toys may pose a danger, they often don’t keep safety in mind when buying presents for a child. The following is a brief guide on toy safety that you should be sure to follow this holiday season.

Toy Safety Risks

The risk of injury as a result of a toy is greater than you might think. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were around 198,000 toy-related injuries treated in emergency rooms across the United States in 2020 alone. An estimated 75% of those injuries were to children 14 years old and younger. There were nine toy-related deaths in that same year.

Toy Safety Tips

Due to the potential injury risk that certain toys may have, it’s essential that you keep the following toy safety tips in mind if you plan on buying a toy as a gift for a child:

• If the toy uses fabric, make sure that it’s labeled as either flame retardant or flame resistant.
  
• Any stuffed toy that you buy should be completely washable.
  
• If the toy is painted, the paint should be marked as lead-free.
  
• Any art materials that you purchase should be advertised as nontoxic.
  
• If you’re buying crayons or paints, look for ASTM D-4236 on the package, which ensures that they’ve been thoroughly tested for safety.
  
• Buy new toys. Older toys may not meet current safety standards.
  
• Check the age recommendations on every toy. A toy meant for an older age group may pose a risk to younger children (for example, they could pose a choking hazard due to smaller parts).

Are you planning on buying a gift for a child this holiday season? Then be sure to keep toy safety in mind. For more safety awareness advice, visit us at The Benefits Store today.