If you’ve recently brought a child into the world, then you’re probably also looking at the various toys and trinkets that manufacturers will be advertising to you. The problem here is it’s not always clear which toys will be 100% safe for your child – many of which can feature content or objects that can put your child’s health at risk. 

That’s why we’ve put together this blog to make it easier for parents to distinguish safe toys for babies and young children and identify problematic areas that could make certain toys worth avoiding until they’re a bit older. Without further ado, here are some essential tips to help you identify safe toys for your children:

1) Look out for sharp edges. Typically, toys aimed at very young children won’t be designed in such a way. However, it’s always best to make sure. As babies like to interact with toys using all five of their senses (touch, smell, sight, sound and taste), it’s imperative to make sure your child won’t injure themselves unnecessarily when discovering all they can do with their new toys. 

2) Colourful toys are a safe bet. Toys that use many bright (often clashing) colours are usually designed to look attractive to children. Many of the toys manufactured by Fisher-Price, Lamaze and more are also designed with safety in mind. 

3) Follow age recommendations. We know they become less important as your child grows older, but age recommendations form a very solid and important guideline for younger children. By following age recommendations, you can slowly begin to fine tune toy purchases based on your child’s main interests. 

4) Keep all packaging away from your child. Plastic bags, especially, pose a suffocation risk. Boxes can often be pointed at the edges to create sharp points, too. Ensure all packaging is kept in a safe place away from child or dispose of it entirely. 

5) Encourage youngsters to keep their play area tidy.  Especially when your child hasn’t fully learned how to walk, a messy play area can lead to scuffs, bruises and other injuries. Keeping a dedicated toy box for the child is a great starting point for this. 

6) Keep toys in good condition for your child. Following on from the last point, when toys clash together – or just when used a lot - it can often cause scrapes or scratches on the surface. Or in the case of soft toys, they can become torn. Keep the toys clean and stitched up should they need it, as damaged toys with exposed parts can often cause injury.

7) Supervise your child during long play sessions. Not only will this further ensure your child’s safety, it will serve to grow the bond between parent and child through imaginative play. Some toys, particularly electronic toys or toys that are heavier than usual, may require additional supervision. If only to guide your child in its intended usage.

8) The quality of the toy is important! If unsure, buy products from trusted manufacturers like Fisher-Price, Leapfrog and others. Search for reviews of the desired product and take others’ accounts into your purchasing decision. 

9) Be wary of sound-based toys. As we mentioned earlier, babies especially like to make use of their senses to identify the usage of a toy. This includes hearing, and there are many electronic toys for very young children that teach subjects like numbers, letters and phonics via the medium of sound. Ensure your child keeps these toys a safe distance away from their ears to avoid damage before their sense of hearing has fully developed. 

10) There are various symbols on the packaging of toys that ensure it’s been tested for safe play. The noticeable “CE” icon and red/yellow lion mark from the British Toy and Hobby Association are long-standing symbols of trustworthy testing. 

11) Those were ten essential tips for keeping your child’s play sessions as safe and fun as possible. As a toy company we take child safety extremely seriously in the selling of our products, and ensure all products are tested, working and of course safe before we send them out.