Watching the face of a child that has just received a new toy is one of the most precious moments for a parent. Parents, however, need to be sure that the toys they buy are safe for their children. Here are a few of the more practical tips to help you choose a safe toy for your child:

Read the label

This is the single most important thing you can do to gauge the safety of a toy. The label will tell you what age-group the toy will be most appropriate for, which is especially important since babies and toddlers tend to experiment with their toys in very dangerous ways. The labels will also tell you whether the materials used in the toys are non-toxic or non-flammable along with the model-number of the toy in case you want to check with the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC). 

Inspect for choking hazards

Just because a toy says it has no detachable parts does not mean your toddler can’t snap a part off. Look for small parts of the toy that are extended and can be pulled, twisted, bitten or torn off. Loose strings or ties can also pose as choking hazards, since they can loop around the throat of a toddler. If you see any such parts, then don’t buy them for your infant, toddler or young child. Older children still tend to break these parts, but at least they now know better than to put the parts in their mouths and swallow.

Watch out for recalled toys

Some toys can be recalled by the CPSC for health and safety reasons. The CPSC has a specific part of their website dedicated to listing recalled toys. There are also various blogs on the Internet that spread information about recalled toys too, so that’s another resource you can tap into. Just make sure to note the name and the model number of the toy to see if they are on the lists.

Buy from reliable sources

There are many unscrupulous vendors on the Internet that don’t have any qualms about selling fake items with false labels, so it is absolutely vital that you buy your toys from trusted sources. This is especially important when buying toys from auction sites where the identity of the vendor is veiled. You may have to pay slightly more, but at least you have the peace of mind knowing that the toy is legitimately safe.