Tips for Buying Safe Toys

With the holidays right around the corner, many parents are thinking about what toys to gift their children with this year – and while evaluating what is on your child’s list, there are a number of things to take into consideration including safety, age appropriateness, and recalls.

Here are a few tips from Hare Wynn for buying safe toys this holiday season:

Always Check the Recommended Age Range on the Toy’s Packaging

Toy manufacturers often include the recommended age for a child’s toy on the box. It is important to adhere to these recommendations.

Be Wary of Small Parts and Choking Hazards

It may sound like common sense, but you don’t want to buy your young children toys with small parts. In fact, it is against the law for a company to manufacture toys with small parts for children under the age of three (3). This is due to the Federal Small Parts Regulation. A small part is defined as anything that can fit inside a certain size test tube. This tube is roughly the size of an empty toilet paper roll. The reason the government uses this measurement is because it is equivalent to the size of a child’s throat when it is fully expanded.

This is why you want to read the labels on any toys you buy. And just because a toy says it’s safe for kids over the age of 3, still be careful. You may buy the toy for your 8- year- old. However, if you have younger children who may get their hands on that toy by accident, it’s better to not buy the toy. It is always better to be safe rather than sorry.

Remember – Just Because a Toy Promises to Teach Your Kids Does Not Mean It’s Safe!

With so many kids participating in virtual school due to COVID-19, a lot of companies are marketing educational toys. You need to make sure you don’t assume that these toys are safe. Anything resembling a science kit or experiment can be dangerous. You also want to read the labels to make sure the toy doesn’t have any small parts or sharp corners.

If Your Child is Injured This Holiday Season, Contact a Skilled Personal Injury Lawyer

The holidays are a time to make memories. The last thing you want to do is have that memory involve the emergency room. In 2016, more than 174,000 children under the age of 15 were rushed to the emergency room because of toy injuries. This is according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. If this happens to your child or loved one this year, call and talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer in Birmingham. You can set up a date and time for your free, initial consultation. And remember – you do not pay a dime unless your case is resolved.