The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), Safe Kids Worldwide, and The Toy Association joined to promote toy safety and smart purchasing practices this holiday season.
The groups are collaborating to reach a wider audience, providing consumer guidance and Toy Safety Shopping Tips to help elevate toy safety awareness during the year’s busiest shopping season.
While CPSC, retailers, toymakers, and nonprofits are committed to ensuring the safety of toys, they say it is equally important for parents and caregivers take an active role in ensuring safe and fun play. The groups issued the following tips for consumers when purchasing toys:
- Check the label and follow age guidance and other safety information on the packaging. Age grading is based on safety concerns and on the developmental appropriateness for children.
- Avoid toys with small parts, as well as marbles and small balls, for children under age three.
- Ensure that stuffed toys have age-appropriate features, such as embroidered or secured eyes and noses for younger children and reinforced seams to withstand an older child’s play.
- Be careful with magnets: High-powered magnet sets are a safety risk to children of all ages. Children have swallowed loose magnets, causing serious intestinal injuries.
- Choose toys that match your child’s interests and abilities as well as your family’s play environment.
- With scooters and other riding toys, be sure to include helmets. Kids should wear sized-to-fit helmets properly at all times on these toys.
- Know your seller, and purchase toys from retailers you know and trust.
