ATLANTA — Watching children unwrap their holiday gifts is a magical moment, but choosing toys that are both safe and developmentally beneficial is essential.
Experts, including Consumer Reports and medical professionals, emphasize key guidelines for parents and caregivers to ensure kids enjoy their toys without unnecessary risks.
Dr. Darria Long, a board-certified emergency room physician and founder of No Panic Parenting, knows firsthand the joy of gifting children the perfect toy. However, she reminds parents to prioritize safety and age-appropriateness when making holiday purchases.
“It does make you feel good to say, okay, here’s a toy that they enjoy, that will keep them occupied, that I know also kind of challenges them, and I know also is safe,” Long said.
One critical safety rule to remember, especially for children under three, is the "toilet paper roll test." Any toy small enough to fit through a standard toilet paper roll poses a choking hazard.
“If a toy is small enough to fit into that little cardboard roll, a young child could put it in their mouth, which means it could be a choking or swallowing hazard,” Long explained.
In addition to choking risks, experts advise looking for toys made from safe materials. Fabric toys should be labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant, stuffed toys should be washable, and art supplies should be marked as nontoxic. Parents are also urged to avoid older toys that may contain lead-based paint.
Another serious hazard comes from button and lithium coin batteries, often found in toys with lights, key fobs, or remote controls. These small batteries, if swallowed, can lodge in a child’s esophagus and cause severe, life-threatening damage in just hours.
“We see cases of children swallowing button batteries every single year in the ER. Button batteries are everywhere,” Long said. “And if a child swallows one, it can become lodged into their esophagus where it can actually burn a hole through the tissue and can be life-threatening in as little as two hours.”
When selecting toys, parents should match their choices to their child’s age and developmental stage.
- For babies under 12 months: Choose activity mats with high-contrast colors to aid cognitive development.
- For toddlers: Push walkers can support motor skills, and music toys help develop language abilities and fine motor coordination while encouraging self-expression.
- For ages 2 to 3: Larger puzzles, stackable blocks, and beginner building sets are ideal for developing fine and gross motor skills.
By paying attention to age guidelines, safety labels and developmental benefits, parents can ensure that the toys they choose bring joy while keeping little ones safe.