As a parent, you want to find toys that stimulate your infant & newborn’s development. You also want to entertain your infant & newborn with fun and exciting toys. But when walking down the toy aisle, what should you be looking for to ensure that you are buying the safest toys for your infant & newborn? There are many safety considerations to consider before you hand a new toy to your infant & newborn. Before you head off to the toy store, grab a toy at a yard sale or accept a toy as a gift for your infant & newborn, consider the following important safety tips.

Tips for Buying Safe Toys

Watch out for toys that list vinyl or PVC as an ingredient (#3 plastic).  Be cautious of soft plastic toys like baby dolls, bath toys and squeeze toys which are often made of vinyl. Choose an alternative to vinyl products when possible.

- make sure bibs are made with non-PVC plastic or choose cotton bibs

- buy a vinyl free change pad that’s made of cotton, wool or natural latex.

- consider cloth lunch bags instead of vinyl lunch boxes

- Avoid vinyl backpacks, rain gear and diaper covers

- consult http://www.iatp.org/ foodandhealth/  to learn more about choosing safer plastics.

Buy plastic-free toys when possible. You should avoid polycarbonate plastic (#7 plastic) in all of your infant & newborn’s toys. Go for fabric teethers instead of plastic ones. Unpainted wooden toys or plush toys are safe.

Avoid play metallic jewelry. Metallic costume jewelry for infant & newborns can have high levels of lead.

Be wary of any toy with magnets. You should be very cautious of any toy that contains magnets. Magnets should be completely covered and encased with a heavy material that makes it impossible for your infant & newborn to chew on.

Regularly check toy recall lists. You might be totally confident in the toy you purchase today, but that great toy may land itself on the toy recall list down the line. Keep an eye on the product recall list to make sure you have the safest toys in your home. You can even sign up for email alerts of toy recalls from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html

Be wary of other chemicals in your infant & newborn’s toys. Make sure your infant & newborn’s toys have been tested for more than Bisphenol A and lead. The Chemical cadmium, Mercury and Arsenic have all been detected in some infant & newborn’s toys.

Remember that small toys are not safe for small infant & newborn. The  smallest part of a toy should be at least 1-1/4 inches wide and at least 2-1/4 long for any infant & newborn 3 years old or younger. If there are parts on the toy smaller than this then it can become a choking hazard.

Pay attention to age labeling. Labels like ‘for ages 3 and up’ are important safety guidelines often safeguarding against small removable parts on the toy, or sharp edges which can make the toy unsafe for a small infant & newborn.

Consider how durable a toy is. Infant & newborns are very tough on their toys. Make sure the toys you buy for your infant & newborns can handle them. Test buttons and eyes on stuffed animals to ensure they can’t be pulled off. Be sure that hard plastic toys won’t come apart (like rattles) and make sure squeeze toys don’t have squeakers that can be easily pulled out.

Watch out for glass, edges and sharp points. Consider how sharp and jagged a toy will become if a piece breaks off.

Crib toys can be especially dangerous. Any toy with a long string or elastic (anything longer than 12 inches) should not be placed in a baby’s crib, because your baby could get tangled in the toy. Once your baby can get up on her hands and knees you should also remove the crib gym from the crib.

Stick with brands you trust. The makers of the following brands of toys have committed to safety and have removed all traces of Bisphenol A from their products: BRIO, Lego, IKEA, Little Tykes, Gerber, Sassy, and Tiny Love. You can learn more about safe toys at www.healthytoys.org

If you do suspect that you infant & newborn’s toy is unsafe you can make a report at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html.