Shopping for toys for your grandchildren during the holiday season is fun.
And far be it for Grandparents.com to take away from that fun. After all, we have a pretty big section on our site full of recommendations and ideas for toys and gifts.
Nonetheless, we need to inject a dose of seriousness into your holiday shopping, courtesy of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In an annual holiday message to parents, grandparents, and all gift-buyers, the CPSC lists its toy hazards and safety recommendations — and this is one list that you definitely need to check twice.
According to the CPSC, the top five toy hazards are:
• Scooters and Other Riding Toys: Riding toys, skateboards, and in-line skates go fast and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be worn at all times and be sized to fit.
• Small Balls and Other Toys With Small Parts: For children younger than age 3, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking.
• Balloons: Children younger than 8 years old can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Keep uninflated balloons away from children. Throw away broken balloons at once.
• Magnets: For children younger than 6, avoid building sets or play sets with small magnets. If magnets, or pieces with magnets, are swallowed, serious injuries or death can occur.
• Chargers and Adapters: Charging batteries should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose thermal-burn hazards to children.
The CPSC also suggests that once gifts are opened, immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys before they become dangerous play things; keep toys suitable for older children away from younger siblings; and pay attention to instructions and warnings on battery chargers. Some chargers lack any device to prevent overcharging.
The role of the CPSC is to protect the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.
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