Toy Safety—Identifying High-Risk Situations

Toys to avoid

The following toys are not appropriate for babies

Don't use these toys for babies:

• Toys that hang in cribs and playpens with strings longer than 7 inches that can strangle a baby

• Toys that are small enough to become lodged in an infant's throat

• Plastic wrapping from toys as it is a suffocation hazard

The following toys are not appropriate for children 3 years old or younger

Don't use these toys if you have children 3 years old or younger: 

• Small toys or toys with removable parts that can become lodged in a child's throat (for example, a stuffed animal with loose eyes or a squeaker inside the body, game pieces, batteries, magnets, or marbles)

• Toys with breakable or loose parts (for example, toys with small wheels or action figures with removable pieces)

• Latex balloons

• Plastic wrapping from toys as it is a suffocation hazard

Babies and toddlers should never be given any of these toys

Watch out for toys that have:

• Parts that could pull off

• Exposed wires

• Parts that get hot

• Lead paint

• Toxic materials

• Breakable parts

• Sharp points or edges

• Glass or brittle parts

• Electronic devices with batteries that can be removed

• Springs, gears, or hinged parts that could pinch or trap fingers

The following toys are not appropriate for children 8 years old or younger

Avoid these toys if you have children 8 years old or younger: 

• Toys with sharp points or edges

• Electrical toys with heating elements (for example, a toy oven set)

• Toys that contain toxic substances (for example, certain art sets, craft sets, or chemistry sets)

• Toys that can trap fingers

• Shooting or loud toys such as BB guns, cap guns, or air guns

• Toys that may contain lead paint (these could be older toys bought at garage sales or flea markets)

• Toys that don't follow U.S. safety standards

• Electronic toys with batteries that can be removed

A special safety note about walkers

The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages the use of walkers for the following reasons:

• Babies in walkers can fall over objects or fall down stairs. They may roll into pools, heaters, and hot stoves.

• Walkers are linked to poisoning, especially in babies younger than 9 months of age. The walker puts a young baby at a level where they can reach household chemicals before they are mobile. This can also be before many parents have baby-proofed their homes.

• These devices don't help your child start walking early. They may actually slow down the development of certain skills. That includes pulling up, crawling, and creeping.

• Walkers give babies extra force to break through barriers, such as safety gates. This results in thousands of head injuries each year.

Note: Many manufacturers now make stationary walkers. They allow babies to sit in place. These are a safer alternative to the moveable walkers. But many healthcare providers still believe that all walkers are unacceptable. Talk with your child's healthcare provider for more information.