Safe Infant Toys

It seems like more and more toys are recalled each year; which makes the topic of safe infant toys an important topic that every parent should investigate. This information is also useful if you need to choose proper baby gifts or even if you’re filling out a baby gift registry.

Choose safe infant toys to keep your little one healthy and happy.

There are certain toys that are never safe for babies. The following are some big danger items to watch out for.

Last year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission released the top five hidden home dangers and among the top five were two related to toys. One was magnets. Since 2005 there have been 86 injuries and 1 child related death due to magnets. However, this is only reported and known magnet related injuries and deaths. In addition there have been over 8 million magnetic toys recalled since 2005.

Babies should never, ever have toys that contain magnets. Magnets can become loose, dislodge, and become stuck in your baby’s throat. If your baby manages to swallow two or more magnets, they can become attracted to each other through body parts, such as the intestines, causing major injuries that are very hard to diagnose. Batteries can also leak causing internal chemical burns. The most dangerous kind of battery is the button battery – more than 2,000 children a year swallow button batteries. You can find button batteries in some small toys.

If you have older kids with magnetic toys, special care should be taken to keep magnets well out of your infant’s reach. If your child swallows a battery, call poison control at 800-222-1222 right away.

Any toy that can fit through a toilet paper tube is off limits for your baby. Toys that can fit through a tube can also fit easily down your baby’s throat.

This was another one of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s top five hidden home dangers. Each year around 400 plus toys are recalled. Do you know which ones? If you have no idea, it’s time to find out. A perfectly safe looking toy of your baby’s may have been recalled because it’s been found that the item can cause serious injury or death.

To get on board with toy recalls, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission. You can sign up for email, RSS, or simply browse the latest toy recalls weekly or monthly.

Recently toys with lead recalls have been all over the news – and with good reason. Lead is bad news for everyone, but can be extremely dangerous for an infant’s not yet developed body. Double check the baby toys you have and make sure they’re free of broken parts (especially plastic), chipped paint, or other problems. Stay clear of generic or off-brand toys; although, the Mattel lead toy issues prove that even name brand toys can pose a danger. That’s one reason it is important to follow toy recalls closely.

To learn more about the dangers of lead read: Lead Poisoning Effects

One of the best ways to choose safe infant toys is to buy from companies dedicated to creating and selling non-toxic, organic, and natural toys. There can still be recalls with toys labeled “organic” or “natural”, but you cut the odds of the recall being based on a chemical or pesticide issue.

There are numerous benefits to purchasing natural baby toys over traditionally made toys. Just a few of these benefits include:

• Not made with pesticides or chemicals.
• Painted with non-toxic finishes and paints.
• Natural toys with fewer lights, gadgets, and gizmos, are better for encouraging old fashioned, imaginative play.
• Well made products that can become family treasures.
• Plus when you purchase sustainable and organic baby products, like toys, you’re not only getting safer toys for your baby, but helping to protect your baby’s planet as well.

To stay up to date on all the latest news and information about safe, organic, and non-toxic toys visit Eco Child’s Play.

• National Green Pages
• Sage Baby
• Sum-Bo-Shine Naturals & Organics
• The Little Seed
• Babynut House
• Oompa Toys
• Taraluna

To learn more visit World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H.). Not only can you view their annual "10 Worst Toys" list for 2007 but they have a comprehensive list of what to avoid when choosing toys.

Lastly, it goes without saying that you should always consider age appropriateness when shopping for safe infant toys. The American Academy of Pediatrics website has many resources about finding safe toys. They also offer an excellent age appropriate toy guide – Which Toy for Which Child for Ages Birth Through Five. (Opens in pdf).

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