Parent’s Guide: 10 Signs of a Safe Toy
Constructors, soft animals, slimes, dolls, tents, and even simple whistles can become a threat to the health and psyche of children. We have collected tips on choosing safe toys for the child, which will come in handy for caring parents.
How to choose safe toys for children?
Size
The toy should be such that the child could not swallow it whole or in parts. Therefore, easily detachable small parts are prohibited.
For children under 3 years old, the size of a single element must be more than 30 mm on the smallest side. The rustling filler of soft toys and the balls in the rattle must be packed in a double case that cannot be torn apart by hand.
Form
Toys with rounded corners are suitable for children under 2 years old – sharp edges can be injured.
Under 6 years of age, any sharp objects are prohibited, including pins, nails, and screws. Toy tools like scissors, saws, and axes should be blunt. At any age, you should not give your child toys with protruding fasteners, burrs, chipped chips, and broken edges.
Material
Children under 3 years old are only suitable for toys made of hypoallergenic materials – silicone, polyurethane, polyamide, and carefully dried wood without resin. By the way, natural fur, wool, and down are banned – they often cause allergies. Currently, “pop its” is very popular among children and it doesn’t have any form of allergies or issues at all.
Over the age of 3 years, all types of non-toxic plastics are allowed, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, and polypropylene. When buying toys, pay special attention to warning labels – lead, formaldehyde, phenol, and mercury should not be used in their production. These harmful substances are dangerous even in mixed proportions.
It is best not to buy toys made from recycled materials such as recycled paper, rubber, cardboard or plastic. When first used, they can absorb dangerous poisons that are invisible to the naked eye.
Color
Bright “acid” shades are usually obtained using toxic dyes. Therefore, you should not buy funny monsters from cartoons for your child, no matter how funny they seem on the screen. In addition, unnatural colors form a distorted perception of reality and deform the perception of the world.
Aroma
A pungent unpleasant odor indicates harmful fumes, especially dangerous for a developing organism. Most often, a strong smell is noticeable in rubber balls and plastic dolls, although some designers also “sin” with this. The gymnastic ball Bradex DE 0540 is devoid of such shortcomings and is suitable for children aged 3 years and older.
Sound
High volumes frighten the child and cause hearing problems. The maximum volume of sound effects at 3 years of age – 75 decibels – is comparable to a loud conversation in a room. For 6 years – 80 dB (vacuum cleaner hum). For 10-13 years old – 90 dB (the sound of a slamming door).
Package
If it is missing, you cannot be sure of the quality, composition, or cleanliness of the toy
Insulation
All contacts, microcircuits, boards, and wires for electric toys must be packed in a shell that the child cannot open on their own. This is the manufacturer’s responsibility. Batteries must be packed in a sealed compartment to prevent electrolyte leakage. Toys for children under 3 years of age should not be taken apart without a tool. And at the age of 3-6 years, power sources can be hidden under a cover with a tight latch that does not fall out during shaking and shock.
Age recommendations and warnings
There is a pictogram on the package with a recommended (in a black circle) or inappropriate (in a red crossed out circle) age of the child. The strictest requirements are for rattles and mobiles for babies. They are dyed at the casting stage so that there is no dye film on the surface that could accidentally enter the body. Toys for newborns will be very durable and will receive a quality certificate if they can withstand eight drops on a concrete floor from a height of 1 meter. The maximum weight of the rattle is up to 100 grams. Even when falling into a stroller, it will not harm the baby.
