Dangerous Toys: How to Keep Your Holidays Injury-Free

I love the holidays. My four tiny loves’ faces all lit up, festive music, yummy cookies for Santa (usually store bought, but they still count!), and all the pretty presents under the tree just waiting to be opened by their tiny hands. Every year I take a look around and just think this is my gift. My healthy, happy, loving family.

I’m sure you feel the same, regardless of what holiday you might celebrate—which is why one of the last things you’d want to happen is to give your child a gift that may hurt them. Sadly, many parents unknowingly give their children dangerous toys. In fact, a recent study shows that every three minutes, a child in our country experiences a toy-related injury. So how can we prevent this?

First off, look at labels and see what ages the toys are appropriate for. You may know that your four year old would love a certain Batman action figure, but if the box says ages 7 and up, I’d opt for the cute age-appropriate Batman pajamas or coloring book instead. Other important things to look out for are sharp edges, pointed corners, small parts, and, for infants and very young children, cords or strings, which can cause strangulation.

Even if you are super watchful and choose toys carefully, sometimes there are oversights in manufacturing or labeling, which is why it’s important to keep up to date with toy recalls. The easiest way is to head to safekids.org and sign up for their child-related recall emails. Yes, it’s one more thing in your inbox, but it’s also one more sign that you can ensure your child’s holidays (and every day!) are safe, healthy, and happy.