Monday, July 13, 2009

Facts About Safe Toddler Toys

By Matt Safe

Knowing about safe toddler toys is an important part of keeping your child from being injured. This is a serious concern for all loving parents. How can we be sure that a toy is safe for our toddler to play with?

Age recommendations are included on most toddler toys. This will give you an idea of where to begin when choosing a toy. You certainly would not want to purchase a toy which contains many small parts, and is intended for a much older child, for a toddler. These age recommendations remove the guess work for many grandparents, and others who are purchasing a gift for someone else's child.

Choking is a major concern with toddlers. This can be avoided by keeping toys with small parts away from young children. Small children notoriously put everything in their mouths. This is a natural and expected part of an infant or toddler's growth. Even if the child is being closely watched, accidents do happen. It is much safer to wait until children are older to allow toys and games with small removable parts.

You certainly want a toddler's toys to inspire creativity, and exploration. You do not however, want them to create frustration. Choosing a safe toy for toddler which is beyond a child's physical or cognitive ability can quickly become a source of irritation, rather than enjoyment. Remember, children like to play with many simple objects, keep things as undemanding and fun as possible. Allow them to just play, this is the best learning experience.

Unfortunately, many toys these days have been found to contain lead paint. Lead paint is a serious danger to children's growing brains. It can also cause a negative physical reaction. Do your best to insure that a toy is one hundred percent lead free. If you can not be one hundred percent sure, choose a different toy. Do not feel disappointed, as this is in the best interest of your child.

It is important that your toddler's toys are washable. Again, small children tend to put everything into their mouths. Germs can be very quickly spread, through a contaminated toy which has not been properly cleaned. Toys which are made out of fabric, must be both washable, and flame resistant.

Always be sure to check out the length of any strings or pull cords on all toys. If they are long enough to be wrapped around a child's neck, then you will want to avoid this toy. Balloons and small balls should never be given to children who are under three years old. When they are given to four and five year olds, they should still be closely supervised. A child of any age who puts balloons in or near the mouth should not be allowed to have them, as this may present a serious choking hazard.

If you want to know about safe toddler toys, it is important that you watch your toddler's behavior and habits.

About the Author:

No comments: