For a parent, there isn’t a bigger joy than watching their child happily play with a shiny new toy. Such sights bring us back to the time when we were children. For a moment, we will feel excited about this toy, as if we are going to play with it. Additionally, in this economy, it is a great privilege to be able to afford toys for your child. Many parents struggle to do so despite their best efforts.
However, another important aspect of buying toys for your child is safety. Not every toy is safe for your youngster. As you can see from this PDF on toy-related injuries, such injuries are not as rare as you might think. So, to keep your child safe, educate yourself about these dangerous toys. Start by reading this article:
Why Are Some Toys Unsafe For Your Child?
First, before we talk more about certain potentially dangerous toys, let’s see what kinds of dangers are lurking. For example, certain toys present choking hazards. Others are made of low-quality and toxic materials that can cause irritations, allergies, poisoning, and even health issues.
Some toys are highly flammable, while others are simply badly designed and produced, so they have sharp edges. Many children like to play with toy guns and similar toys that shoot off projectiles. This can lead to eye injuries, broken teeth, and other bodily injuries.
As you can see, there are many toy-related dangers to be aware of. Keep in mind that we listed only some of these hazards. Below is a more exhaustive list of potentially dangerous toys:
(Try To) Avoid These Dangerous Toys
As a parent, you probably know that almost everything can become dangerous in the hands of a small child. Still, some toys are more dangerous than others, so let’s take a closer look at them:
Water Beads
Toys with water beads are very popular, especially among smaller children who need sensory play. These small beads can grow much larger when immersed in water or another liquid. They are usually colorful and somewhat slimy, which makes them interesting for small children.
However, water bead toys are also a choking hazard. A child could swallow or push a bead inside their little nose. Both options mean the bead will end up in a moist environment, it will grow and obstruct the airways even more. Since it is so slimy, it can be tricky to remove the water bead from your child’s airways, which could further complicate an already dangerous situation.
Safety measures: If your child really wants to play with water beads, keep them in a thick plastic bag or container. Alternatively, allow your children to play with water beads only when they are old enough to know that they shouldn’t swallow them.
Battery-Powered Toys
Many children’s toys have batteries in them, and these tiny batteries are also dangerous. First of all, these batteries could be choking hazards. However, even if your child swallows a battery without choking, the danger is far from over.
Once swallowed, these batteries will cause severe burns to the esophagus and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Even after the battery is removed, the damage can continue. In the end, the child might need multiple surgeries to survive and retain a quality of life.
Safety measures: If you buy toys with batteries, try to find toys that have sturdy battery covers. For example, many toys have screws in the battery covers. Regularly inspect your child’s toys to see if the battery covers seem loose. Keep your battery-powered devices (such as car keys) far from your child’s reach.
Dangerous Toys with Small and Detachable Parts
This one is pretty obvious, and you probably already know how dangerous are toys with small parts that can be easily detached. Small children can swallow or inhale such loose toy parts, which can lead to toy-related choking.
As your children grow, they will be less at risk of such choking incidents. Still, before that happens, you will need to go through a phase in which your small child wants to put everything in their mouth, including their toys.
Safety measures: While your children are still too young, buy toys without loose parts. If you already have bought such toys, remove these small and loose parts from the toy. Your child won’t notice any difference anyway.
Trampolines
Let’s be honest: trampolines are fun, even for us adults. However, they can also injure your child. These trampoline injuries can range from sprained ankles and broken limbs to even more serious injuries.
Such injuries are common when two or more children use a trampoline. Some children even try to jump onto their trampolines from higher places, such as trees and roofs. So, if you want to surprise your kid(s) with a trampoline, think twice.
Safety measures: If you want to buy a trampoline, find a sturdy one that’s not too large. It must have a security net. Allow your children to jump one by one, and keep your eye on them.
Projectile-Based Toys
Toy guns, pistols, and similar toys are popular among children, especially boys. Kids will go crazy for toy guns that have “bullets.” However, these bullets, even though they are usually made of plastic, can be extremely dangerous. Toy gun injuries among children are more common than you might think.
When shot at someone, these plastic bullets can leave nasty bruises. If they hit the eye area, they can seriously damage the eyes and even lead to eye loss. Avoid giving such toys to your kids, even if they are a bit bigger. They can still take their play too far or misjudge the target and cause irreparable damage to themselves and those around them.
Toys With Cords and Strings
Some toys, such as musical toys, have cords and strings. These toys can be dangerous for two reasons. First, string toys can lead to strangulation. This may sound extreme and dramatic, but it can happen faster than you may think.
In other, less extreme cases, these string toys can get wrapped around your kid’s fingers and limbs. As a result, this can stop the blood flow from said fingers or limbs. Such situations are especially dangerous if your child is still a baby or non-verbal. You might not notice it until it is already too late.
Safety measures: Don’t buy string toys until your child is at least 4-5 years old. If you already have such toys, cut the strings off.
Other Potentially Dangerous Toys
Apart from the above-mentioned toys, there are several other toys you should avoid buying for your kids. Alternatively, if you have already bought such toys or you plan to, stay vigilant to prevent potential injuries:
- Too noisy toys – Such toys can impair your child’s hearing, so try to keep their volume at a healthy level
- Toys of suspicious origins – Over the past few years, many toys have been recalled because they were made from toxic materials. Buy toys from reputable sellers only.
- Electric scooters and hoverboards – Every child wants them, but electric scooters and hoverboards can lead to various injuries. Don’t buy them until your child is at least 6-7 years old. Allow your child to play and ride these “toys” only under your supervision
- Toys that contain magnets, powders, and other substances – Your child could swallow or inhale them. Try not to buy such toys until your child grows up.
- Broken toys – Kids break their toys all the time, but these toys could lead to cuts and other injuries. Broken battery-powered toys could also lead to electric shocks or burns.
Safer Alternatives
Fortunately, there are many safe toys out there. The rule of thumb for picking such toys is to only buy age-appropriate toys. That means soft toys for babies, no toys with small parts for toddlers, etc. Always choose toys of high quality – it is better to buy 3-4 high-quality toys for your child than dozens of low-quality ones.
Of course, no matter how safe a certain toy is, you should always supervise your children as they play, especially when they are young. You can never be overly cautious.
Should You Completely Forbid Potentially Dangerous Toys?
After reading about so many potential injuries, you probably can’t help but wonder if there is a way to keep your child 100% safe from dangerous toys. Should you completely ban these toys? For example, some toys, such as bikes, dolls, and Legos, were a staple of many happy childhoods, but they also led to some injuries.
You can’t wrap your child in bubble wrap and keep it protected from all dangers. Try to avoid the toys from our list, but keep in mind that most toys can become dangerous in certain situations. That’s why your vigilance is the best protection. Additionally, for each dangerous toy from our list, we gave you some tips to make it a bit safer, so make sure to try these out!
Apart from watching your children while they play, play with them actively. This way, you will be able to spot various dangers. As your children grow up, educate them on various dangers and teach them how to stay safe. After all, life is full of risks; show your children how to deal with those risks in the best way possible.
Do you have any experience with dangerous toys or some tips to add? Feel free to share them!
Be aware, and stay safe!
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