Think Safe When Buying Toys
Shops are now full of toys to tempt children of all ages this Christmas. Every year there’s something new to add to the present list. Here are some “buy wise” tips from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to help you have a safe and happy Christmas.
- remember the smaller the child, the bigger the toy. Children under three put everything in their mouths, up their noses and in their ears. Also, they can’t cough things up until they’re over three years old. If a toy is small enough to fit into a container about the size of a film canister, or can easily break into small parts, a child under three should not be playing with it.
- if toys have sharp points or rough edges a child could badly scratch or cut themselves.
- check that any decorative bits and pieces on the surface toys are firmly attached and that stuffing can’t come out.
- check that strings or tails on toys are not long enough for a child to choke on, or get wound around little fingers or toes.
- buying toys that don’t need close supervision may make life a lot easier. But small children need close supervision with toys to help stop accidents happening.
- Toys – things that go shrill, ring, clatter or click, can make fun toys for kids. But noisy toys can also be a hazard and loud or shrill sounds can damage children’s hearing. Think twice about buying noisy toys for children under 18 months of age. If you do buy toys that make a noise, they should be no louder than a washing machine or dishwasher, and should be kept well away from a baby’s head. For children over 18 months, and even as old as 14 years, sound from toys should not exceed 85 decibels (as a guide, heavy traffic, coffee grinders, or blenders are around 85 decibels). Be wary of any noise-makers that are designed to be put up to the ear, for example, toy cellphones and intercoms.
- Toys – toys that fire objects are not suitable for children under three years of age. And they should never be put in the mouth.
Thanks to Ministry of Consumer Affairs
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
Contact this person
