10 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Toy:–

1. Check for sharp edges or rough surfaces as they can cause cuts and splinters.

2. Buy washable, non breakable toys for babies.

3. Anything small enough to fit into a 35mm film canister can choke a child under 3.

4. Toy chests and boxes should be designed not to close on top of children, or better still with a removable lid. Anything big enough to crawl inside must have ventilation holed.

5. Read and heed the age labelling on new toys. “Not suitable for children aged under 3″ means that there are small parts which could be swallowed; it is not an indication of skill level or intelligence.

6. Check toys regularly for loose parts which may be choking dangers.

7. Check that there are no gaps or holes which could entrap a child’s fingers.

8. Be wary of toys that make loud noises as they can be harmful to hearing. Particularly toys which are held against the ear, such as walkie talkies and toy mobile phones.

9. Check for ventilation before buying tents, masks, helmets etc.

10. Ensure that ride-on toys are stable, appropriate to the age of the child and will not overbalance. Toy bikes should have effective brakes which can be applied by the rider.