What Grandparents Need to Know: Toy Safety
Toys. It’s hard to imagine a childhood without them! As a grandparent, you are likely responsible for providing some of the toys in your grandchild’s life. Don’t take that responsibility lightly—over a million children were treated in emergency room visits for toy-related injuries between 2015 and 2019. The highest percentage of these injuries were in children ages 1-4, so it’s important for new grandparents to be aware of the hazards out there! Whether you are buying toys as gifts for your grandchildren or have toys you’ve saved from your children’s childhood, read on for the things that you’ll want to watch out for.
Old Toy Safety
You’ve probably been keeping them up in the attic or out in the garage, or maybe even stashed in a storage unit. Or perhaps they’ve just been gathering dust in a bedroom or a cupboard in the family room, waiting for the day your grandchildren are ready for them. It’s a rare grandparent who hasn’t saved a few of their children’s favorite toys for their grandkids to play with someday.
Be careful before you get them out of that box. Many old toys don’t meet today’s safety standards: they may have small parts which pose choking hazards, contain lead or other toxic chemicals, or have unsecured battery compartments. Those much-loved Fisher-Price Little People caused seven deaths before they were redesigned in 1991. Old plastic toys often have unsafe levels of lead or other toxic minerals, or use chemicals which are now banned.
Before letting your grandchild play with any toys produced before 2007, do a little research. Google the toy’s name and manufacturer with the word “safety” or “danger”. You may need to add the word “vintage” for accurate info. I discovered the toy garage I saved for all these years has unsafe levels of lead in the plastic. You’ll also want to check carefully for loose parts, broken or sharp edges, or small parts that can become accessible. This includes not just toys you saved, but any you find on Ebay, in thrift stores, or borrow from a neighbor.
Better safe than sorry is the best rule of thumb. If you can’t verify that it is safe, assume it is potentially hazardous and don’t let your grandchild play with it.
Why Toy Age Range Recommendations Matter
Another problem with old toys is that you no longer have information on age recommendations. Toys that are labeled ages 3+ may contain small parts which can be choking hazards, or batteries which can be swallowed. Beyond that, toys are designed to match a child’s developmental stage. Choosing appropriate toys for your grandchild’s age and stage ensures that their playtime will be both fun and enriching.
New Toy Safety
You also need to be watchful when you buy toys for your grandchildren. Just because a toy is available on Amazon or the shelves of your local Walmart doesn’t automatically mean it’s safe. There are plenty of inexpensive toys that break easily, causing sharp edges or choking hazards. Be especially careful with toys you buy online, as many come from overseas sellers who don’t comply with stringent safety recommendations.
Even popular toys can turn out to be unsafe. Take the case of water beads, which are still selling like hotcakes despite the fact that these superabsorbent polymer beads are hazardous if swallowed or stuck in an ear or nostril. They’ve caused at least one death and numerous trips to the emergency room.
Doing your research before you buy gifts for grandchildren. Read reviews, check for recalls, and look for safety certifications like the ones shared here. Keep age recommendations in mind, as well as your grandchild’s personality.
The Best Toys for Your Grandchild
Children aren’t just passing time when they play with toys, they are engaged in serious brain development. The best toys encourage learning. The more open-ended a toy is, the more a child can learn. A toy that sings the alphabet song when you press a button is less educational than a set of blocks. Choosing age-appropriate toys will enhance your grandchild’s cognitive, motor, and social skills. We’ve got a lot of our favorites in our gift guide, and we stand by our recommendation of Lovevery toys as the best toys for developing minds. (Read our full review here.)
As always, consider parents’ requests before buying any toys for your grandchildren. Many parents want to avoid plastic or gender-specific toys. With so many toy options for children on the market, it’s easy to honor parents’ wishes when you buy a gift.
Safety may not be our first criteria when we look for toy ideas for our grandchildren, but it should definitely be one of the considerations. Download our toy safety checklist and keep it on hand for the next time you are looking for toys for your grandchildren.
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