Whether you’re buying a toy for your child, a niece or nephew, a child in your family, or your friend’s children, it’s important to consider safety before purchasing and presenting the toy to the child. Even though the toy you want to buy is the toy of the season that everyone is getting, you still want to make sure that it will be safe for the specific child you’re planning to purchase it for.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were over 226,000 toy-related injuries in children under 15 in 2018, and 17 children died from toys. In all ages, injuries most commonly occurred to the face and head. Much less common were injuries to arms and legs. All these injuries could be prevented by taking proper safety precaution.
No matter how careful and thorough you are, accidents can still happen. Or if a product doesn’t have the proper warning and causes harm to your child, then you could use the help of a product liability lawyer from DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC. We’ll help you protect your rights and get you justice for the harm caused to your child.
Here are some safety tips for the holidays when you’re planning on buying and gifting toys for the children in your life.
Read the Label
The label has important information about which group of children a toy is safest for. You’ll want to pay attention to age recommendations, if the toy has small parts that fit in a mouth, and whether or not the toy is nontoxic. On top of the small parts, you’ll want to check and see if any battery or magnet compartments can be opened on the toy.
Before giving the toy to the child, you should remove all tags, strings, and ribbons. No matter the age, children could put something in their mouths and can be poisoned by it or swallow and choke on it. That’s why you need to thoroughly remove all small items.
Watch for Powerful Magnets
Powerful magnets can be dangerous for children, especially if they swallow them. These high-powered magnets could cause serious injuries and even death for children when swallowed. Make sure that a toy does not contain these magnets, remove them from the toy, or don’t buy a toy that contains them.
Inspect and Wash Toys
Other than reading all of the warnings and recommendations on a toy’s box, it’s also important to inspect and wash the toys before giving them to a child to play with. For stuffed animals, make sure seams are sturdy and there are no sharp parts of the toy. Put this in the washing machine to ensure it’s clean before giving it to the child.
With plastic and other toys, you’ll also need to inspect them for sharp objects or any defects the toy might have. Make sure to sanitize the toy before giving them to children. Even if we weren’t in the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to wash and sanitize toys. It’s especially important for small children because they are more likely to put toys in their mouths.
Buy Safety Gear for Riding Toys
Bikes, scooters, or rollerblades are great toys that will keep your child active and entertained, but they can also be dangerous if they’re inexperienced. If you’re planning to get your child a toy that they can ride, you should also get them the proper safety equipment that goes with the toy. Helmets, elbow pads, and knee pads are all great tools to keep your child safe.
On top of safety gear, make sure you show your child how to safely ride and dismount so they know what to do. It’s also essential that you watch your child while they’re using their riding toy—you never know when an accident could happen and they need immediate help.
Check for Recalls
Even after you’ve done all your checks, shown them how to properly play with the toy, and sanitized everything, you still need to stay up to date on any news surrounding the product. Sometimes there are recalls about a specific toy that could prove dangerous to your child. Be sure to keep an eye out for any recalls or warnings that are issued about your children’s toys so that they are always safe.
If a recall wasn’t issued in time, or a warning wasn’t posted on the toy’s box, and the toy harmed your child, then you could be dealing with injuries and damages that you weren’t prepared for. A product liability lawyer from DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC in Charleston can help you recover what you’re owed for the damages that defective product caused your child.
Reach out to our firm today so we can get started on your claim as soon as possible and get your family the justice you deserve.
