Safe toy purchases for children are a year-round responsibility. However, during the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons, the abundance of toy choices can be overwhelming when determining the appropriate toy for age, ability, and safety.

Established in 1916, in New York City, is the National Toy Association. The association has nearly 900 members representing $41 billion in domestic sales and interacts with manufacturers and regulators to ensure safety and childhood development. In addition, the association sponsors the National Toy Foundation, which has distributed gifts worldwide to 33 million children.

A November press release from the association offers consumers awareness about counterfeit and unsafe toys. In part, the release stated, “Genuine toys sold by reputable brands comply with tough federal safety standards that protect children at play, while counterfeits often fail to meet safety standards, posing a serious risk to kids,” commented Joan Lawrence, the association’s “Toy Safety Mom” and senior vice president.

The federal government’s agency for safety, including toys and other important related aspects, is the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Their 2023 research data cited there were 10 deaths and an estimated 154,700 emergency department-treated injuries associated with toys for children 12 years and younger.

The commission cited the majority of the deaths attributed to choking on small balls or crayons, drownings linked to flotation toys, entrapment inside a toy chest, and ingestion of water beads. Among the emergency-treated injuries, non-motorized scooters accounted for the largest share of injuries across all age groups – 53,000. Non-motorized scooters accounted for one in every five toy-related injuries to children younger than 15.

A recent press release from the commission stated, “From online shopping to in-person gatherings, safety and protecting our children should be a top priority this holiday season. By being mindful of product hazards, checking for recalls and purchasing from reputable sources, you can protect your loved ones and ensure a joyous and accident-free holiday for all.”

The commission offers the following “Think Toy Safety” guidelines:

WHEN BUYING TOYS

Choose toys with care. Keep in mind the child’s age, interests, and skill level. Look for quality design and construction. Make sure that all directions or instructions are clear — to you and, when appropriate, to the child. Plastic wrappings on toys should be discarded at once before they become deadly playthings. Be a label reader. Look for and heed age recommendations, such as “not recommended for children under three.” Look for other safety labels including: “flame retardant/flame resistant” on fabric products and “washable/hygienic materials” on stuffed animals and dolls.

WHEN MAINTAINING TOYS

Check all toys periodically for breakage and potential hazards. A damaged or dangerous toy should be immediately discarded or repaired. Edges on wooden or some plastic toys might become sharp. Surfaces covered with splinters should be sanded smooth. Examine all outdoor toys regularly for rust or weak parts that could become hazardous.

WHEN STORING TOYS

Teach children to put their toys safely away on shelves or in a toy chest to prevent trips and falls. Toy chests should be checked for safety. Use a toy chest that has a lid that will stay open in any position to which it is raised and will not fall unexpectedly on a child. For extra safety, be sure the chest offers ventilation holes for fresh air.

WATCH FOR SHARP EDGES

These could be cuts and hinges that could pinch or squeeze. See that toys used outdoors are stored after play — rain or dew can rust or damage a variety of toys and toy parts creating hazards. New toys intended for children under 8 should be free of sharp glass and metal edges. With use, however, older toys may break, exposing cutting edges.

SMALL PARTS

The law bans small parts of toys intended for children under 3. This includes removable small eyes and noses on stuffed toys and dolls, and small, removable squeakers on squeeze toys.

LOUD NOISES

Toy caps, noise-making guns, and other toys can produce sounds at noise levels that can damage hearing. Do not fire closer than one foot to the ear. Do not use these items indoors.

CORDS AND STRINGS

Long strings or cords are dangerous for infants and very young children. These cords can become wrapped around an infant’s neck, causing strangulation. Never hang toys with long strings, cords, loops, or ribbons in cribs or playpens where children can become entangled. Remove crib gyms when the child can pull up on hands and knees.

SHARP POINTS

Toys that have been broken may have dangerous points or prongs. Stuffed toys may have wires inside the toy which could cut or stab if exposed. A regulation prohibits sharp points in new toys and other articles intended for use by children under 8.

PROPELLED OBJECT PROJECTILE

Guided missiles and similar flying toys can be turned into weapons and injure eyes or other body areas. Children should never be permitted to play with hobby or sporting equipment which have sharp points. Arrows or darts used by children should have soft cork tips, rubber suction cups, or other protective tips intended to prevent injury. Check to be sure the tips are secure. Avoid dart guns or other toys that might be capable of firing articles not intended for use with the toy, such as pencils or nails.

ALL TOYS ARE NOT FOR ALL CHILDREN

Keep toys designed for older children out of the hands of little ones. Follow labels that give age recommendations — some toys are recommended for older children because they may be hazardous in the hands of a younger child. Teach older children to help keep their toys away from younger children. Even balloons, when uninflated or broken, can choke or suffocate if a young child tries to swallow. More children have suffocated on uninflated balloons and pieces of broken balloons than on any other type of toy.

ELECTRIC TOYS

Electric toys must meet mandatory requirements for maximum surface temperatures, electrical construction, and prominent warning labels. Electric toys with heating elements are recommended only for children over 8. Children should be taught to use electric toys properly, cautiously, and under adult supervision.

INFANTS

Toys such as rattles, squeeze toys, and teethers, should be large enough so that they cannot enter and become lodged in an infant’s throat

Finally, the commission recommends never purchasing “no name products” found at dollar stores, street fairs, yard sales, or vending machines.

For more information contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov or 800.638.2772 and the National Toy Association at www.toyassociation.org or 212.675.1141.

Various product recalls can be found at www.recalls.gov.

Jeffrey D. Brasie is a retired health care CEO. He frequently writes historic feature stories and op-eds for various Michigan newspapers. As a Vietnam-era veteran, he served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserve. He served on the public affairs staff of the secretary of the Navy. He grew up in Alpena and resides in suburban Detroit.