Word of Advice

8 December 2008

Buying safe toys for Christmas

If you’re shopping for toys you’re probably looking for something that will last a bit longer than your post-Christmas dinner snooze. But are you also thinking about whether the toys are safe and appropriate for your child?

Buying safe toys for your children will help keep your holiday peaceful and accident free. Toys usually say on the packet what age they are appropriate for, but some extra things to look out for include:

• Size: The smaller the child the bigger the toy should be. Check the age guide on the toy. For a child under three the toy should be bigger than a tennis ball and have no breakable parts.
• Smooth: Sharp edges can cut or scratch children and sharp corners are especially dangerous. Safe gifts may be wrapped in not-so-safe packaging – make sure these are quickly disposed of after the gift has been opened.
• Surface: Make sure surface decorations will not come off and that stuffing is not going to come out. Be especially careful of items that contain small magnets, which small children may swallow.
• Supervision: Some toys need more supervision than others. Gifts for older children will need to be kept out of reach of younger brothers or sisters. For toys with chargers, have an adult charge the toy and keep the charger out of the reach of children.
• Strings: Children can choke on strings or be strangled; strings can also cut off the blood supply if accidentally tied around fingers or toes.

Noisy toys

Toys that make noise are fun for most kids. The problem is when a toy produces noise which is too loud for the child. When people (of all ages) are exposed to loud noise, or a lesser noise but for a longer time, sensitive parts of the ear can be permanently damaged.

Young children don’t know how to protect their ears from noise that is too loud, so parents and other adults need to be careful about what level of noise the child is exposed to.

New Zealand has a children’s toys safety standard which has some recommendations for how loud toys can be, measured in decibels (dB):

• 125dB – for a hand held toy or a toy that is used on the floor
• 92dB – for a toy that a child might be put up to their ear
• 85dB – for a rattle or squeeze toy.

For comparison, a chainsaw is about 100dB and a vacuum cleaner is about 60dB-75dB from a metre away. The decibel level depends how far away from a child’s ears the toy is being used. Toys that are held up to the ear should be quieter than toys that are played with on the floor.

When you’re shopping

When you’re out shopping this Christmas remember these tips:

• Read any instructions. The toy might come with special safety instructions or could be dangerous if used or put together the wrong way.
• Buy safety gear like helmets and kneepads to go with scooters, skates or bikes. These kinds of toys can move very fast and safety gear will help protect your child if they come flying off.
• Be extra cautious if you are buying second-hand toys. Check them carefully and make sure that the toy hasn’t been recalled for safety reasons.

  Consumer NZ runs a recall database.

• Keep the receipt in case you have any problems with the toy after you buy it. If it has a fault that affects the safety then you can take it back to the shop for a full refund.
• Think twice about buying noisy toys for children under 18 months old (this is when a child’s hearing is the most sensitive). If you’re buying a toy which makes a noise for a baby, buy one that makes a noise at about the same level you would ordinarily speak to a baby (approx 60dB). The toy should also always be kept well away from a baby’s head.
• Some toys have removable tags which are there to make the noise louder in the shop when the adult is trying out the toy. Remember to remove the tag and packaging before children play with the toy, and don’t let kids play with these toys in the shop.

Visit here for more information on product safety issues.