What Makes a Toy Safe for a Toddler?

Toys are a huge part of a child’s development. However, failing to choose them correctly could mean a trip or two to the emergency room for toy-related accidents. In particular, toddlers under three face a higher risk of choking because they tend to put things in their mouths.

Toys that pose more of a choking hazard for toddlers usually have detachable parts, such as toy trucks, cars, and Barbie dolls. So, are there safe toys for kids who love trucks and other toys that don’t fall under the choking-hazard category?

Today, we’ll talk about the things that make a toy safe for a specific age group to help create the safest possible playtime scenario for your children.

What Makes a Safe Toy in the United States?

In the United States, toys are deemed safe when they adhere to the following guidelines:

• Stuffed toys should be washable.
• Toys that have fabric must be flame retardant or resistant.
• Painted toys should have lead-free paint.
• Art materials should be non-toxic and labeled as such.
• ASTM D-4236 should be indicated on paint and crayon packages to tell you ASTM International or the former American Society for Testing and Materials assessed them.

While still appreciated as gifts, hand-me-downs and older toys are best left as decorations, as they aren’t likely to adhere to the current standards of toy safety.

Loud toys also aren’t advisable since they can damage your little one’s hearing. That means you want to steer clear of toys that make rattle noises, annoying squeaks, and siren- or horn-like sounds as much as you can. The fact that children are also likely to hold these playthings directly against their ear makes them even more of a health hazard.

The Toys for Your Child’s Age Group

In addition to being safe, the right toy should also be appropriate for your child’s development stage and emerging abilities. Below are descriptions of what the ideal toys should be across child age groups.

Toys for Newborns

At this age, children aren’t really able to do much with their hands, so they let their eyes do most of the talking. They like to look at their surroundings, especially things that remind them of people’s faces.

You want a toy that helps stimulate their senses and makes them curious about what the rest of their body parts can do. Little by little, they’ll start to move their hands and feet and even turn their heads towards images and sounds.

When it comes to infants, these are the kinds of toys you should go for:

• Toys they can hold on to, shake, suck on, and make sounds with. Of course, you don’t want anything too noisy.
• Picture books with stories to stimulate sight and hearing.

Toys for Older Infants

Beyond the six-month mark is when babies start to get active. They’ll start scooting, bouncing, creeping, crawling, and doing everything they can to pull themselves up to get at something. They’ll also begin making progress cognitively, understanding their own names and identifying body parts and objects.

The perfect toys for these youngsters would be:

• Objects they can play pretend with, like vehicles, dolls, puppets, and water toys.
• Toys they can build with, like soft cubes or wooden blocks.
• Things they can crawl over, push and pull, and roll to stimulate their large muscle groups.

Toddlers at Least Two Years and Above

Children are more curious than ever at this age and will attempt to do “physical” testing as much as they can. They’ll have some sense of danger at this point, but even that won’t be able to trump their eagerness to learn and explore.

The following are toys fit for toddlers:

• Toys that focus on problem-solving, like puzzles, items to sort by color, size, and shape, and blocks.
• Toys for pretend play and building.
• Non-toxic markers, crayons, and paint
• Slightly more detailed picture books
• Toys that play music
• Toys that help stimulate motor skills.

Reading toy labels is a must since they help you learn whether a specific toy is right for your child. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and other similar organizations can help you shop for toys wisely.

Then, there are your child’s needs to keep in mind, as well. You must always consider if a toy is fit for his or her temperament, behavior, and habits. After all, each child is unique and might react to toys differently from another. That is why getting a toy appropriate for the child’s age level is of utmost importance.

How To Make Playtime at Home Safe

At the end of the day, buying toys labeled as “safe” can only do so much. Just as important is educating your little ones on how to play with their new toys safely. You especially want to supervise younger children as they play to ensure they are never put in harm’s way.