December is National Safe Toys and Gifts Month.
Reports show nearly 155,000 children under the age of 12 were treated at emergency departments last year due to toy-related injuries.
So, how can parents keep their little ones safe?
“One of the most important things in toy safety is we certainly want our toys to be fun and not a hazard for our patients,” said Dr. Adam Keating, a pediatrician for Cleveland Clinic Children’s. “One of the first things that everybody thinks about is a choking hazard.”
Keating said if any part of a toy can fit through a toilet paper roll, then it’s considered a choking hazard for children under the age of 3.
The same goes for toys with cords or long strings.
He said toys with magnets or button batteries are also a concern because a child could accidentally swallow them.
If you are going to get a toy that needs a battery, the battery should be well-secured with a cover that cannot be pried off.
Other toys to avoid include anything with sharp edges that could cut or scratch them, or anything vintage that contains lead paint.
And finally, if your child has an electric scooter on their wish list, Keating said to make sure you also get them a helmet.
“Any time we’re doing anything with wheels, we want to make sure there’s safety equipment that goes a long with it. I tell my patients that I don’t make the rules in your house, but in my house, people didn’t end up on things with wheels without a helmet. Other parts of the body heal, but if you hurt your brain, sometimes it doesn’t get better,” he explained.
If you are unsure about whether a toy is safe or has been recalled, you can check the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.