National Safe Toys and Gifts Month- December

• Written by Nidhi Goyal

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Toys and gifts are for joy & fun,

What if they turn into risky guns?

Lead, arsenic, and mercury are good to experiment with in a chemistry lab. What would be more horrifying for you if you find these elements in your child’s body. Above all, you or your loved ones are responsible for the same. 

Toys can harm your kids. Their sharp edges hurt them, and the small parts may cause choking, and other injuries. So, it would be best to give  safe toys to your kids. 

It's December, national safe toys and gifts month. Gift-giving and toy-sharing are in high gear. We know you promised your child a special Christmas gift, but hold on to it. Take a step back and think “Are the toys you are buying for your child safe or dangerous?” 

You might have checked for the warning labels, etc., before buying. Even though toys are manufactured with care, supervision helps prevent choking hazards. Sadly, we have deaths related to toys, too. As per Prevent Blindness America, approximately 11,000 toy-related injuries yearly occur due to toy mishaps. 

What Kind of Injuries are Possible With Toys?

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2020, 198,000 toy-related injuries were treated in emergency departments of US hospitals. To avoid any in your house, get to know the most common toy-related pediatric injury below and safeguard your infant-

• Choking: It is the fourth largest cause of unintentional deaths in infants under 5 years of age. Toys with button batteries or magnets are also a concern if they swallow it accidentally. Even the tiniest particle from a broken toy can cause suffocation. You can’t be with them 24*7 or put surveillance on them. So, always inspect a toy before giving it to your child. 
• Eye injury: Toys cause 1 in 10 eye injuries to children. The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises people to choose gifts cautiously to avoid mischance.  Falling may also break their sunglasses or lenses, causing an eye injury.
• Cuts from sharp edges: Some injuries can be more than a scratch. The sharp edges of a fidget spinner and pop fidget can accidentally poke or cut your kid. 
• BB guns: Non-powder guns like air guns and BBs are beyond child’s play and amusement. They may lead to serious injuries to the user. So, they must be responsibly handled. 
• Falling and fractures: Toys should come with safety equipment. Playing on ride-on toys like skateboards, and standup scooters without helmets and other protective gear increases the chances of getting scratches and fractures in the worst cases. 

Checklist for Buying Safe Toys

ISO 8124 “Toy Safety Standards” by the International Organisation for Standarisation focuses on establishing comprehensive testing methods to minimise potential toy related hazards. Inspect every toy or gift you buy for your loved ones. Take these preventive measures to not let their toys or gifts turn into weapons for them.

1. If you buy crayons, they must have a “nontoxic” label.
2. Avoid presents with spikes, sharp edges or points.
3. The product should have a seal by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
4. Toys that can break upon impact or children can pull apart easily.
5. Avoid toys with cords, ropes, and heating elements.
6. Ensure the toy doesn’t have lead-based substances.

Avoid These Toy Dangers

Protect your children from toy hazards and prioritise child safety by choosing the right toys. Paying no attention means inviting problems. Here is the list of toy dangers you should take care of-

1. Throw away deflated or damaged balloons.
2. If batteries are used in a toy, they should be well covered and secured so that they cannot be pried off.
3. Toys containing marbles, small balls, and round-shaped pieces that may cause choking hazards must be avoided for children younger than 3 years of age.
4. If swallowed, toys containing any high-powered magnets can lead to serious injuries.
5. Avoid purchasing toys with rigid or sharp points, dangerous edges, spikes or rods. 
6. BB guns are not toys. Keeping your children away from them will save you many troubles.

Safety Net for Your Children

Emergency may knock on the door anytime, anywhere and for anyone. Insurance for children has become mandatory. Health insurance can provide your children a physically and financially secure life. Age should not be a factor while buying an insurance policy. You can also add them to your family health insurance plan and cover any medical emergency without panicking about money. 

How to Disinfect Toys and Gifts at Home?

Toys are everywhere: in your child’s room, dining table, floor, balcony, everywhere. As parents or guardians, your child’s safety becomes your duty. Take a look at the  ways you can ensure product safety for them.

1. To sanitise hard-shelled toys, use water and bleach in a 1.5:1 ratio. 
2. Clean and sanitise soft or plush toys in a washing machine. Use dish soap/water solution for delicate toys and gently rinse the solution.
3. Sanitise electronics by removing the batteries, carefully using a rag soaked in a dish soap/water mixture, and then thoroughly rinsing them. After they are dry, re-wipe all the surfaces for any excess disinfectant.

7 Quick Tips for Safe Toy Gifting

Gift safe infant toys to your little ones and have a stress-free evening.

1. Gift of riding toys should come with protective gear such as kneepads or helmets.
2. Immediately discard the gift wrap.
3. Demonstrate the correct toy usage to your child to avoid any future concerns.
4. Ensure you dispose of any broken toys and ensure there aren’t any small parts that can create choking hazards to them.
5. Keep in mind your child’s age before buying a gift  for them. There may be physical skills or some specific understanding required to play with it.
6. Carefully read the warning labels and instructions to verify if it is the right fit for them r.
7. Always store all the games and toys in a bin or container when the playtime is over. This will minimise the chances of the little fingers reaching them.

Summing Up!

Though December is the biggest gift-giving month,

Christmas bells and New Year are all near.

But make sure you are cautious.

As you are shopping for your tiny ones also.

Let’s live an alert life, to give our children a safe life.

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