By Marie Elium
A classic “Saturday Night Live” sketch from the ‘70s featured Dan Aykroyd as a smarmy, fast-talking toy executive defending his company’s “Bag O’ Glass” and “Teddy Chainsaw Bear” holiday offerings.
Few of us have given our grandkids anything that dangerous — at least, not on purpose. Yet toys that seem perfect may not be safe. Age matters.
Luckily for grandparents and anyone else buying kids’ gifts this holiday season, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has us covered. Their website CPSC.gov has guidelines and recall notifications to guide shoppers. It’s the agency that keeps “Johnny Switchblade Adventure Punk,” (another toy from the Dan Aykroyd sketch) off store shelves.
Choking on small parts is the leading cause of kids’ injuries or deaths from toys. Another big hazard: button batteries. That’s why toy battery covers have screws. The CPSC’s list is a sobering litany of toy hazards. The best advice: follow the manufacturer’s age recommendations on the package.
Other tips:
- Consider the ages of all the children in the household, as toys with small parts, projectiles, sharp edges and other hazards can harm younger siblings.
- Get safety gear, including helmets, for scooters and other riding toys.
- Keep small balls and toys with small parts away from children younger than age 3. Supervise older children, as deaths have occurred with small balls.
- Ensure high-powered magnets and button cell or coin batteries are kept away from young children who might mistakenly, or intentionally, swallow them and damage their digestive systems.
- Properly dispose of thin plastic bags and packaging, as children can suffocate.
- Before purchasing a new or used toy, be sure the toy has not been banned or recalled. Check cpsc.gov/recalls, or download the CPSC Recalls App at CPSC.gov/Data. If possible, consumers should register the toy with the company after purchase, so they can receive recall notices directly from the company.
- Shop from stores and online retailers you know and trust.
- Avoid buying counterfeit items by scrutinizing the item, the packaging and the label. If the price seems too good to be true, this can be a sign that the product is not authentic or original, and may be unsafe.
- Look for a certification mark from an independent testing organization and the manufacturer’s label.
Marie Elium is making her toddler grandson a set of holiday pillowcases for Christmas.
