Gift-Buying Safety Tips

Everyone loves buying gifts for their baby. But how do you know if those gifts are safe? The following tips will help you choose the best and safest toys for your little one:

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills, and interest level of your child. Toys for more advanced children may pose safety hazards to younger kids.
• Avoid toys with small parts that could pose a choking hazard.
• Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly secured eyes, noses, and other potential small parts.
• Avoid giving toys that have sharp edges and
  points to kids under age 8.
• Do not purchase electric toys with heating elements for children under age 8.
• Be a label reader. Look for labels that give age recommendations and use that information as a guide.
• Check instructions for clarity. They should be clear to you and to your child.
• Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys, which can cause suffocation.

Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission

The information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's condition.