Children's toys
Although toys are involved in over 40,000 accidents each year,
their safety is only part of the problem. Many accidents involving
toys occur when people trip over them and when babies play with
toys intended for older children.
Choosing safe toys
Always go to a reputable shop. You are more likely to get
helpful advice if you go to a specialist toy shop or the toy
department of a large store or major chain.
Check for:
- 'CE' Mark - all toys must have this by law.
- Look for the BSI Kite and Lion quality marks and make sure that
toys come in the original sealed packaging.
- small parts, such as hair or eyes, which can be a choking
hazard if they become loose.
- sharp edges or points which could cut or damage small
fingers.
- electrical toys - these must not operate at more than 24
volts.
Small parts
Children can easily choke on small objects. Children under
three years old are especially at risk. It is impossible to
watch a child all the time. Even if you think your child has
understood your warnings, a small toy can prove tempting. So safety
messages such as ‘not suitable for children under 36 months because
of small parts’ must be taken literally.
Age advice
Messages such as ‘recommended for children aged 3-4’or ‘play age
5-7’ are discretionary guidelines. Age guidelines can help you
decide if the toy will be fun for your child to play with and if it
will prove stimulating.
Dangerous toys
You can check our news and alerts
and product recall sections for unsafe
toys that have been reported to Trading Standards.
If you are concerned about a toy please report it to
the consumer helpline.