How to choose safe toys for your child

A good toy doesn't need to be expensive. It should be safe for your child, match their age and meet basic safety standards.

You can choose from a variety of toys for your child, such as:

• soft toys, dolls and action figures
• puzzles and building blocks
• musical toys such as whistles and xylophones
• art and craft toys

Good toys should help encourage your child to:

• talk and develop social skills
• use their imagination and be creative
• move and develop physical skills
• understand the world around them

Playing with toys is important for your child's physical and mental development. Toys can help with thinking, movement, emotions, social skills and language development. They can help children grow up confident, creative and happy.

Most toys will have a label with a recommended age range. For example, a toy with choking hazards may be recommended only for children aged over 3 years.

In Australia, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has a strong impact on these recommendations. All toys should meet certain sections of either the Australian Safety Standard AS/NZS 8124 or similar international, European or American standards.

You can report an unsafe toy on the ACCC product safety website.

Toys can cut, choke, strangle or cause internal injuries if they are not safe, or not used safely. Some things to consider when choosing toys are their:

• size and shape
• materials and fillings
• batteries
• strings

Size and shape

The smaller your child, the bigger the toy should be. Toys with small parts are dangerous for babies and young children.

This is because young babies explore their world by putting things in their mouths, noses and ears.

Children under 3 years have an immature cough reflex. This means that they can choke easily on small items.

A child under 3 years should not play with toys that:

• are the size of a ping-pong ball or smaller
• can easily break into small parts
• are made of foam, as they can bite off chunks that can cause choking

Be careful of toys that can break easily. Small, broken pieces can be a choking hazard. Broken pieces may also be sharp and can injure your child.

Materials and fillings

Check that any paint or fillings used on or inside toys are non-toxic.

Check that soft toys have a:

• clean filling, free of harmful substances
• filling that can't come out easily and cause choking

Regularly make sure that parts of soft toys are attached properly, such as hard eyes, noses or buttons.

Tips for batteries

Batteries should not be handled by children. They are toxic if swallowed and they can cause choking. The battery boxes of toys containing batteries must be firm and closed.

Strings

Strings or tails on toys:

• can strangle a child if they become caught in them
• can cut through their skin
• should not be longer than 22cm

Supervision

Small children need close supervision with toys to help prevent accidents from happening.

You can get toys by:

• buying them new from toy stores and department stores
• borrowing or swapping them with friends, family, playgroups or toy libraries
• buying them second-hand from fairs, garage sales or online
• making your own

If you get a second-hand toy for your child, make sure:

• it is safe
• the product hasn't been recalled
• it includes the instructions for safe use
• all parts are in good working order

Ask yourself these questions before you buy toys for your child:

• Would it be fun to play with?
• Would it help my child's development?
• Is it suited to the age of my child?
• Is it well made?
• Does it have any small parts?
• Is it made with any toxic materials?

For more information on choosing toys, you can visit:

• the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
• Product Safety Australia
• Australian Toy Association

You can check before buying or borrowing an item to use with your child through the Australian Government's product safety recalls website. They also offer a free do-it-yourself choke check safety tool.

You may consider taking your child to a playgroup, where they will have access to the right toys. Visit the Playgroup Australia website to find a playgroup near you.