In addition to this toy safety overview, you can download a product safety brochure from the Toy Industry Association, or visit safekids. Children 3 years and younger are at greater risk of choking on small toy parts than older children because of their tendency to put things in their mouths as well as the small size of their airways. Other toys to avoid include electrical toys and toys with heating elements for children under 8 and latex balloons for all children. Teach them not to play with riding toys near stairs, cars, or swimming pools, and always remind them not to hit other children with toys or throw toys that are not intended to be thrown. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the independent federal agency that oversees the safety of 15,000 consumer products in the United States, including toys, and provides governmental regulatory compliance. It’s also important to remember that the Toy Industry Association (TIA) and its members have a long history of accomplishment and leadership in voluntarily maintaining the highest level of toy safety, as does ASTM International which works with toy manufacturers and the government to maintain safety standards. read more

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