BSI reveals top ten toy safety tips for Christmas
Press release - 27 October 2011
With Christmas only 58 days away, many parents will be starting to think about buying presents; many of which will be toys. To help inform parents and relatives, The British Standards Institution (BSI) has launched a new consumer guide on toy safety entitled ‘Playing Safe’.
Top 10 safety tips include:
- Choose toys suitable for the child’s age and abilities
- Check the child’s fingers won’t get caught in moving parts and strings or straps don’t pose a strangulation risk
- Don’t buy toys with small detachable parts for children under three years old
- Don’t give toys with heating elements to children under eight years old
- Don’t allow young children, especially those under three years to access toys intended for older children
- Always follow the instructions and warnings, and explain them to the child where appropriate
- When you change the batteries in a toy, change them all at once
- Check toys frequently for breaks and potential hazards such as splinters and sharp edges
- Discard plastic wrappings immediately
- Tidy up – toys left lying around can cause accidents
The leaflet, which is free to download, explains the safety standards that toy manufacturers have to meet, and includes advice about buying toys and how to keep children safe while they play.
