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Toy Safety Guidelines |
While toys are generally safe when used properly, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends parents take the following steps when purchasing a toy: |
Select toys to suit the skills, abilities and interests of the individual child. Be a label reader. Look for and heed age recommendations, such as "Not recommended for children under three." Also, look for saftey labels such as "Flame retardant/Flame resistant." When selecting toys for children under three years of age, avoid those with small parts that could be swallowed or inhaled. Be sure that soft rattles and teething toys, even in their most compressed state, are too large to fit completely in an infant's mouth. Check for sturdy well-sewn seams on stuffed animals and cloth dolls. Be sure that eyes, noses, buttons, ribbons and other decorations are securely fastened and cannot be pulled or bitten off. Make sure that all instructions are clear to you, and when appropriate to your child. Discard plastic wrappings on toys immediately, before they become deadly playthings. Toys with long strings or cords are not recommended for infants and very young children because they can cause strangulation. Electric toys with heating elements are recommended only for children over eight years old. Arrows or darts used by children should have soft cork tips, rubber suction cups, or other protective tips. Check to be sure tips are secure. |
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