Choosing Safe Toys
Toys are a staple of childhood, but every year children end up in the hospital for toy-related injuries. To protect your children, ensure that their toys are appropriate for their age level, not their perceived maturity or intelligence. Look for toys that are labeled as flame resistant or flame retardant. Make sure any paint you provide is free of lead. Don’t put off repairing broken toys and throw away anything you don’t plan to fix. Call the CPSC hotline to report any unsafe toys.
Key Takeaways:
- Select toys that are washable and made of flame-resistant materials.
- Art materials should be nontoxic and take care to buy paints and crayons that have ASTM D-4236 on the label.
- Make sure that you’re buying toys appropriate for your child’s age, not based on maturity or intelligence.
“Any toys made in — or imported into — the United States after 1995 must follow CPSC standards.”