WINNIPEG – There are plenty of hazards parents know already when it comes to buying toys for children.
Make sure there are no small parts, avoid sharp edges, and read all labels thoroughly before giving the toy to the child.
But what about keeping toys bigger than the width of a toilet paper tube? Or looking for recall information online? Or securing life-threatening, corrosive button batteries that can eat through tissue, leaving the skin deteriorated and severely damaged?
An estimated 3 million children under the age of 18 were treated for toy-related injuries over a 22-year period, a U.S. study says. That’s about 150,000 injuries a year on average, or about one every three minutes.
And holiday shopping can be a challenge. For adults, you need to pick the right size and fit, make sure the quality is decent, and check that it’s something they’ll use and want. For children, it’s simple: if it’s bright, colourful, loud and shiny, then it’s good to go.
But Rose Gueret, a product safety officer at Health Canada, says there are easy steps parents and caregivers can take in order buy safer toys for their children.
With dangers from chokeable parts, sharp edges, and shiny, appealing button batteries, shopping safe for your child may take some extra time, and caution.
“Toys have to meet store safety standards. The take-home message is to match the age and ability of the child to the toy,” says Gueret. “It’s good to know, for parents and caregivers, that there are strict toy standards to meet in Canada.”
Checking labels on toys is an important first step, Gueret says. Making sure toys are too big to fit in a child’s mouth is also key. Parents can measure the toy in comparison to a toilet paper tube to make sure it’s big enough.
Looking online for recalled toys is another safety measure caregivers can take to prevent injuries.
For more information on toy safety standards, what to buy, and what to avoid, you can visit the their website.
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