Baby's First Christmas is arriving fast and you're looking for safe Christmas toys; you may even have toddlers or older children in your household and are looking for safe Christmas toys for them as well.

 

At Christmas, parents are in a bit of a quandry when it comes to choosing safe toys for their babies and older children. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (U.S.A.) has their tips for shopping for and purchasing safe and age-appropriate toys.

 

Ride-on Toys – Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates go fast and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be sized to fit.

 

Small Parts – For children younger than age three, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking.

 

Magnets – For children under age six, avoid building sets with small magnets. If magnets or pieces with magnets are swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur.

 

Projectile Toys – Projectile toys such as air rockets, darts and sling shots are for older children. Improper use of these toys can result in serious eye injuries.

 

Chargers and Adapters – Charging batteries should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to children.

 

To choose appropriate toys for children:

 

Be a label reader. Look for toy labels that give age and safety recommendations and use that information as a guide.

 

Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly-secured eyes, noses and other potential small parts.

 

For all children under 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.

 

Once the gifts are open:

Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys before they become dangerous play things.

 

Keep toys appropriate for older children away from younger siblings or neighbors.

 

Pay attention to instructions and warnings on battery chargers. Some chargers lack any device to prevent overcharging.

 

And Remember - Baby really does not need many (shiny or expensive) toys at Christmas time!  This is most true when your baby is between the age of 1 and 10 months old.  Ask any parent what their baby or toddler's best loved toy was at Christmas time and you'll be surprised to hear "The boxes, the paper and the bows" were the baby's most played with items!