1. Read the label before buying the toy. Warning labels provide important information about how to use a toy, what ages the toy is safe for, and whether adult supervision is recommended. Be sure to show your child how to use the toy properly.
2. Think LARGE when it comes to choosing toys. Make sure all toys and parts are larger than your child's mouth to prevent choking. Avoid small toys intended for older children that could fit into your child's mouth. This will decrease the risk of choking.
3. Avoid toys that shoot small objects into the air. They can cause serious eye injuries or choking.
4. Avoid toys that make loud or shrill noises to help protect your child's hearing. Ask to try the toy in the store. Check the loudness of the sound it makes. Don't buy toys that may be too loud for your child's sensitive hearing.
5. Look for sturdy toy construction. When buying a soft toy or stuffed animal, make sure the eyes, the nose, and any other small parts are secured tightly. Make sure it is machine washable. Check to see that seams and edges are secure. Remove loose ribbons or strings to avoid strangulation. Avoid toys containing small bean-like pellets or stuffing that can cause choking or suffocation if swallowed.
6. Watch out for sharp points or edges and toys made from thin plastic or other material that may break easily. Don't buy toys with metal parts for a baby or toddler. If your older child plays with darts or arrows, make sure they have blunt tips made of soft rubber or flexible plastic. Tips should be securely fastened.
7. Avoid toxic items and materials that could cause poisoning. Look for paint sets, crayons, and markers that are labeled nontoxic. Small batteries are not only toxic, they also can pose a choking or swallowing hazard.
8. Avoid hobby kits and chemistry sets for any child younger than 12 years old. If these kits are purchased for older children (12 to 15 years of age), make sure you provide proper supervision and store them out of reach of young children.
9. Electric toys should be "UL Approved" Check the label to make sure the toy is approved by the Underwriters Laboratories.
10. Be careful when buying crib toys. Strings or wires that hang in a crib should be kept short. They may pose a serious strangulation hazard when a child begins to crawl or stand. Remove crib gyms and mobiles as soon as your child can push up on her hands and knees.
11. Choose a toy chest carefully. Look for smooth, finished edges that are nontoxic. If it has a lid, make sure it is sturdy, with locking supports and safe hinges. It should stay open in any position and hinges should not pinch your child's skin. The chest should also have ventilation holes to prevent suffocation if your child becomes trapped inside. The best toy chest is a box or basket without a lid.

• The safety aspects of the toy and any possible choking hazards
• The physical ability of the child to play with the toy
• The ability of a child to understand how to use a toy
• The needs and interests at various levels of a child's development

• Parts that could pull off and/or fit into a child's mouth, nose, or ear
• Exposed wires and parts that get hot
• Lead paint
• Toxic materials
• Breakable parts
• Sharp points or edges
• Glass or thin parts
• Springs, gears, or hinged parts that could pinch tiny fingers or become caught in your child's hair

Published online: 3/07
Source: Toy Safety (Copyright © 1994 American Academy of Pediatrics, Updated 12/98)

Healthcare professionals may order this publication in multi-copy packs.
Parents can find more information on this topic in Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. To order a copy of this book visit the AAP Bookstore.

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The information contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.