8 things to think about before buying children’s toys online
The internet has changed the way we shop for our kids. In many ways it’s for the better: saves time, can sometimes be cheaper and arrives at your front door. Unfortunately, there are some downsides to all this convenience. Not all toys available online are safe for children.
Of course people shouldn’t be allowed to sell shonky toys online – or anywhere for that matter – but it does happen.
To help you make better buying decisions online, we’ve put together a list of things parents can watch out for when buying toys for children to keep them safe.
1. Check the age recommendation
Always check what age the toy is suitable for. The recommendation is there to keep your children safe. Even if you consider your child to more advanced for her age, the toy can still pose some physical risks. For example, any toy that says it’s not suitable for children three years and under means it has small parts that could potentially pose as a choking hazard.
2. Look for choking hazards
When it comes to spotting potential choking hazards, a useful guide for parents is that if any parts of a toy fit inside a 35mm film canister, they should not be given to a child under three. The ACCC provides a free DIY choke check safety tool to help you determine this.
3. Visualise your toddler throwing the toy
Imagine you’ve already bought the toy and your child loves it (cute). Now imagine them throwing it across the room (not so cute) – and now it’s broken. What size are the pieces left behind? Could they be a possible hazard? If the answer is yes, buy something else.
4. Does it contain magnets?
Kids love to put things in their mouths and magnets are no exception. The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne points out that magnets can be dangerous when swallowed, especially if two or more are swallowed, so avoid any toys with magnets. If you think your child has swallowed a magnet, go to your nearest hospital emergency department ASAP.
5. Check for batteries
Button batteries are standard in many toys and can cause a lot of harm if swallowed. Make sure the battery compartment is secured, and ensure spare batteries are kept out of reach from children. “If you think a child has swallowed a button battery, go to your nearest hospital emergency department or call an ambulance immediately. Do not induce vomiting,” says the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.
6. You get what you pay for
Australia has strict safety standards in place for toys, and any overseas retailers selling to Australian consumers must indeed comply with product safety requirements. But not all of them do. Sadly, parents can run into the same problems in Australia. CHOICE found “toys from small retailers, particularly cheap variety stores and market stalls, are more likely to fail tests … but large toy stores and department stores generally have better compliance regimes and are much less likely to stock unsafe toys.”
7. The 5 S test
According to Fair Trading, there are five things you should consider before buying toys online (and yes, they all start with S):
- size: the bigger the better (definitely nothing smaller than a 20 cent piece)
- shape: avoid weird shapes and pointy edges
- surface: look for non-toxic surfaces, including paint
- strings: anything over 30cm is a strangulation hazard
- supervision: you can’t beat supervision.
8. Permanent bans
Thankfully, some unsafe baby and children’s products have been permanently banned in Australia, including DEHP in plastic for kids products, toys containing beads and yo-yo water balls.
For more information, visit Fair Trading.
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