Parental Education Source

Toys are needed as learning activity tool. They can make your children busy in the same time teach them many things. However, when you think about safety for young children, it has to be in the first places we should be watchful of the toys surround them. Many articles and news show that some toys are dangerous and some of them are safer.

An example is the crib gyms. You have to watch the safety hazard that might not consider. Then, exercisers, kickers and similar toys are such fun to add to a child’s environment but are extremely dangerous. The risk starts around five months of age as young children start to explore standing, pulling up on the side of the crib, etc. Your young child will easily pull themselves up to reach the toy and even grab it. Once entangled it can result an injury or even death. Hence, it is recommended to remove these toys immediately if they are hooked up in your play pen or crib. Untying one end will not solve the problem, as strangulation could still be a possibility.

Another often overlooked safety hazard in the concern for safety for young children are the straps that are found on certain toys such as toy guitars or toy drums. These can easily become twisted around the neck and cause strangulation for children under the age of three. Other strangulation deaths have been known to be caused by necklaces, cords or ribbons. For a young child it doesn’t take more than a few pounds of force on the neck’s blood vessels to cause strangulation. Most young children cannot untwist a cord or strap. So, you have to cut off all cords, strings and straps from any toy instruments or toys.

Finally, there is a danger we might never think of and it is the handle on squeeze toys of a certain size and shape. The toy is dangerous and should be removed immediately. Report shows that they were recalled years ago after the death of several infants. Just when we think we have covered all the angles of safety for our young children there are new items to watch out for. Let’s put safety first and stay vigilant at all times and about all toys that surround our young children!