CPSC Tips for choosing Toys for Children

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards to younger children.
• For infants, toddlers and all children who still mouth objects, avoid toys with small parts, which could pose a fatal choking hazard.
• Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly-secured eyes, noses and other potential small parts.
• For all children under 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
• Avoid electric toys with heating elements for a child under 8.
• Be a label reader. Look for toy labels that give age and safety recommendations and use that information as a guide.
• Check toy instructions for clarity – for both you and, when appropriate, the child.
• Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys, which can cause suffocation, before they become deadly playthings.