Factors to Consider When Buying Toys for Your Baby

Every parent wants the best for their children. Whether it is about choosing a piece of clothing or their first set of toys, you need to prioritise their safety while ensuring they enjoy the things you get for them. In fact, you must be extra careful when it comes to buying toys for your baby. Do not just buy any toy that looks fun. Perform the following measures to choose safe toys for your infant.

1. Confirm Safety First

To ensure that the toys you are buying for your baby are safe, you must confirm a few things. The first thing to check is whether the toys are compliant with AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2023, the safety of toys and equivalent standards. These standards ensure that the toys are tested for toxic materials, choking hazards, and other risks. You can find trusted toy manufacturers like Riff Raff, who comply with these safety standards. However, you should also ensure that the toys you buy for your baby do not have tiny pieces, sharp edges, or parts that could come off.

2. Find Age-Appropriate Toys

Always check the age recommendation on the packaging of the toys. It is crucial to select toys based on your baby’s age. Finding age-appropriate toys ensures that they fit your baby’s specific stage of development. For instance, soft crochet toys are ideal for newborns, while stacking toys are more suitable for toddlers who have started developing fine motor skills. This measure will ensure that your chosen toys are both fun and safe for your baby.

3. Do Not Pick Loud Toys

While ensuring your baby's safety, try not to expose them to loud toys. The irritating noise from loud toys can hinder child development. Using toys that generate noise at 85 dB or higher intensity for extended periods can cause hearing loss in children. Choose toys that do not generate any type of noise to ensure your baby's healthier development.

4. Consider the Size of the Toys

Babies and toddlers love putting things in their mouths. While it is important to keep an eye on them all the time to ensure their safety, you must also ensure they do not put hazardous things in their mouth. Avoid buying smaller toys, as the chances of them swallowing them and choking are very high. Always prefer large toys with no detachable small components.

5. Get Washable Toys

To ensure the complete safety of your child while buying toys for them, you need to look for washable toys to prevent the risks of lice, allergies, asthma, and germ buildups. Over a period, the toys may collect dust, dirt, allergens, and other harmful elements. Since babies love putting everything in their mouths, you need to clean their toys frequently to protect them from those potential hazards. It is particularly important when you are giving them second-hand toys.

6. Avoid Electric Toys

Toys that run on batteries and electricity may not be ideal for babies and toddlers. As you may realise, they pose a risk to your child. These batteries can leak, or there can be a short circuit. The consequences can be even worse if the child swallows the batteries, which can cause chemical burns.

7. Be Careful While Giving Riding Toys

Most riding toys are meant for children who can sit up without anyone else’s support. Even if your child is able to sit up while unsupported, you should always check the manufacturer’s recommendations before allowing your child to have such a toy. Riding toys like rocking horses and wagons should come with safety harnesses or straps. They should also be stable and secure enough to prevent the child from tipping.

Wrapping Up

Being careful while buying toys for your babies can ensure a smooth and fun-filled childhood. While you should hand them toys under an adult’s supervision, choosing safer toys will simply keep them out of harm’s way.