Christmas gifts for kids come in many shapes and designs, but not all of them are safe, and some can be downright dangerous as well. Safety should come first and above all quality should be at the top of your list when you decide to buy a toy. One of the first things to look for is that the child’s age matches the age advertised on the product she is purchasing. Will the toy or educational product also match the child’s skill level? A Christmas present for a 6 year old will only make a 4 or 3 year old angry and not play with him. Yeah, you could put it away for a while, but that’s not the idea of a great Christmas present right now, is it?
dangerous gifts
Yes, there are many products with very small parts, like many of the new action figures being promoted today. Many toys also have sharp edges and swords or axes in their hands. These are not gifts for young children and should be avoided. In the early years of a child they have a tendency to put everything in their mouths and the small part can be very dangerous.
stuffed toys
The traditional Christmas gifts for the little ones are the large selection of stuffed toys. Take the time to look at the quality of the toy. Give the eyes, nose, and other parts a tug and see if they are attached well. If the teddy bear is in a package, choose one that you can see and try. Remember that little ones like to bite and chew everything and can rip out a nose or a badly glued eye in no time. Look for stuffed toys that have printed or embroidered parts to be sure. A few minutes of testing and examining the gift can save you from disaster later.
Toys with sharp edges
Many toys for 2-4 year olds come with very sharp edges. They are made of hard plastic and can hurt the child’s mouth and eyes. Try not to buy electric toys for very young children, save them for their later years. If the toy has parts that light up or you have to plug it in, stay away from them, as they can be harmful to a small child. Always read the warnings and take the advice seriously. Of course, this will not apply if the child is older or younger than the recommended age.
Time to unwrap the presents.
You’ve got the toys and you’ve read all the warnings, so everything should be fine, right? Not yet, much of the packaging comes in the form of plastic and can be very dangerous. Be sure not to leave a child with plastic bags or small pieces of packaging alone in the room.
One last thing to look out for is tethers, the bags the toys come in and also the toys may be secured to a carton which may contain small parts that can be put in children’s mouths. Observe your children as they open their gifts and be sure to remove any harmful packaging and put them away from the site.
recalled toys
In recent years there have been many recalls of baby and toddler toys. You may want to take a closer look at them before you decide to buy.
Most consumer websites have all the recalled toys listed. Lead paint and hazardous product recalls top the list. This is why you may want to steer clear of bargain and discount stores for children’s gifts. I’m not saying all, but some companies tend to exploit recalled toys instead of adhering to recall rules. The toy list is long and many may come from your favorite companies.
