Baby Toy Safety Tips to Protect Your Child
Each year, thousands of babies are injured by playing with toys that are unsafe. While most manufacturers have taken great care to ensure their toys are baby-safe, the injuries continue. Sometimes, it’s due to the manner in which the toys were built. Other times, babies are left unattended with toys that are otherwise safe but can still cause harm when the baby is alone. The injuries are always unfortunate. Some are tragic. Thankfully, with diligence, most of the toy-related harm that happens to babies can be prevented. In this article, you’ll discover the toy hazards that can potentially hurt your child.
Beware Of Sharp Edges And Points
Toys aren’t typically sold with sharp edges and points. However, some toys are manufactured in such a way that they appear harmless but can cause injury when played with. Also, though many baby toys are built absent of any edges or points that can pierce, cut, or otherwise injure your child, they can break. When a baby plays with a toy, pieces can break off exposing sharp points that can slice or puncture the skin. When you buy a new toy for your baby, take time to inspect it. Remove it from the packaging. Take note of any potential breaks or damage that can expose metal, glass, or hard plastic edges.
Watch The Small Parts
Most baby toys don’t allow small parts to be removed or unfastened. They’re typically sold in 1 piece. But, toys break easily. Simply dropping it onto the ground can cause pieces to loosen. The parts may not break off at that moment, but a slight pull or tug by your baby can easily cause the part to dislodge from the toy. Because babies tend to put things into their mouth, this can be extremely dangerous. Small parts can be swallowed and become lodged deep in your baby’s throat, cutting off air. Or, your baby may place the small piece in her ear or nose. There, it can remain out of reach as your baby screams in pain. While considering toys to buy, make sure there are no removable parts. Keep in mind the materials from which the toy is constructed. Hard plastic can easily break off and cause injury.
Mind The Projectiles
Surprisingly, there are a few toys that are sold with the ability to shoot small projectile parts. There’s very little power behind the projectile, but its size can cause a tragic problem. Your baby might swallow the projectile. Or, it can strike your baby’s eyes. Every precaution that you take in purchasing baby toys with small parts should be taken when buying toys that propel small objects. These toys can become deadly in a baby’s hands.
Choosing Toys Your Baby Can Handle
There’s a lot you can do to ensure your baby is never exposed to the dangers of hazardous toys. It requires a bit of forethought. For each toy you purchase, ask yourself whether the toy is too small. You don’t want your baby to swallow the toy. How heavy is the toy? If dropped onto your baby’s head, can it cause an injury? Does it have a cord that your baby may inadvertently wrap around his neck? Are there pieces that are loose on the toy? With time, can those pieces become detached and pose a safety threat?
These are the questions you should ask yourself whenever you buy a baby toy. By being mindful of the potential hazards, you can all but guarantee the safety of your baby. Thousands of babies are injured by toys each year. Nearly every injury could have been prevented. Use the tips above to protect your child.
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Zapf Creation Baby Annabell interaktiivne nukk.
Help answer the question about baby toys
How do I teach my dog the difference between dog toys and baby toys?I never realized until I was pregnant how similar they are! One of my three dogs is a toy monger. The best toy is a toy another dog is playing with. The other two could care less (probably because they never get a chance to play with them).
Since we have a baby on the way, how do I teach the dog which toys are not his?
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Damn, that baby is a beast.
Il doit bien dormir le soir…
My dog has "HIS" toybox
My Baby has "HER" toybox
Toys are kept separate.
Baby is only allowed to play with her toys.. if she has a dog toy, I remove it from her and give her one of HER toys
Dog is only allowed to play with his toys.. if he has a baby toy, I remove it and give him one of HIS toys.
Eventually the toys will have their individual scent and your dog should be able to recognize which are his and which belong to the baby.
Baby toys are also put away when she's done playing.. they are not left laying anywhere. Most of her toys are kept in the living room, which is baby gated off- the dog has limited access to that room.
The best solution is to just supervise, and make sure that baby toys are put away when the baby is not playing with them. Your child can learn at a young age to keep her toys picked up, or they may become chewed up.
!!!! WAIT !!!!! ANSWER #1 IS 100% INCORRECT !!!
He states
"Stick with wooden or cloth/plush toys for a baby – that's one option. "
The wooden toys from China are the ones that are painted and have the biggest chance of having lead based paint (LBP). Cloth/plush items will (can) collect lead dust from floors. And then pass it to the kids if they are not cleaned / washed often.
There was a web site for recalled toys but I can't find it right now. But even this site may not list all the toys effected with lead. Its a good start but I would test each wooden OR PLASTIC toy I bought. There can be lead in plastic or vinyl.
edit: found the web site… http://www.babycenter.com
The easiest way to test is with a product call "Lead Check". They are small white tubes that deliver a chemical (sodium rodizinate) to the surface. If there is leach-able lead it will turn color (pink or red). Call around to your local paint stores to find them. There are many types of these chemical test kits but my opinion is Lead Check is the best / easiest.
HINT: They cost about $3.00 each BUT !!! (Lead Check hates me to teach this) … There are 5 to 7 drops in each tube. If you use a clean dry cotton swab on each item, you can get 5 to 7 tests.
(no I don't work for or own stock in this co.) …
For more info plese read http://home.mindspring.com/~wrltc/lswp.pdf A book I wrote for parents doing re-modeling or having it done. And lead issues in general. It was paid for by a fed/state grant. Which means its your book as much as mine. I am NOT trying to sell you anything. Education about this subject is my job.
I love disinfectant spray! I think it is awesome. Obviously you don't want to give it to your child while it is wet and you just freshly sprayed it, but I use it on my sons toys while he is napping or after he goes to bed and put then run them under hot water and let them dry. It just makes me feel better. But also hot, soapy water works great too.
Redbull and Babies dont mix (o:
You may be surprised how many of those toys can actually survive the washer and some even the dryer. I've washed many stuffed toys and they come out of the washer clean and in good shape. Use the gentle cycle and air dry them if you're concerned about the heat of dryer. You might try it first with something you're not really attached to and see how it works for you.
LOL
Very cute idea… I should do that with my son.
I agree with hot soapy water but you could also use a 50/50 solution of water and peroxide. If you are looking for a non toxic/healthy way to clean.
D’aww! X33
No, most of the toys you will find at regular commercial toy stores do contain pthalates. The FDA and other regulatory agencies do now acknowledge any dangers in pthalates, parabens, dioxins, SLS, sodium polyacrylate, etc., so the manufacturers don't see a need to change to more expensive materials. If you want non-toxic toys, shop at natural baby stores. Some good online stores are:
http://www.cottonbabies.com
http://www.wilddill.com
http://www.melissaanddoug.com
I used to work in an infant room in a daycare center and DHS regulations had us spray the toys with diluted bleach…take a clean spray bottle and fill it full of water then add one table spoon of bleach to it. Spray the toys over the sink and let air dry. If there are stains on them you are trying to remove, you can simply take a little bit of laundry detergent and rub it on the stain and then rinse it.
toys r us
lmao
aww its so cute when he gets stuck under the chair! and i absolutely love this song even though i dont speak french! I’ve looked ‘coeur de pirate’ up on iTunes and now i have her on my iPod!
lemon juice or V8
i want this existence.