2015 Safe Shopping Guide to Help Parents Avoid Dangerous Toys and Have a Safe Holiday

Christmas is almost here. For most parents, that means last minute shopping for children’s gifts. But before you finish your shopping, take the time to learn which toys may be unsafe in order to protect your children from preventable injuries this holiday season. Here is a 2015 safe shopping guide to help you avoid dangerous toys for your little ones:

Buy Toys that Are Age Appropriate

Buying toys that are suitable for the age of child is essential to your child’s safety. Choosing the right toys for the right age makes a toy more enjoyable for a child and reduces certain risks, such as choking or swallowing hazards. For other children, scooters, skateboards and other riding toys that require better balance may not be appropriate and can lead to injuries. If you do buy a riding toy for your child this year, make sure you insist upon your child wearing a properly fitting helmet to help prevent head injuries.

Keep in mind that some toys can pose a choking hazard to young children. Make sure that you keep magnets, balloons, toys with small removable parts, and small balls and marbles out of the reach of young children. They may try to put them in their mouth and choke.

Use Safety and Parental Controls

The Illinois Attorney General’s website has published a 2015 Safe Shopping Guide that encourages parents to use safety features and parental controls on digital devices. For parents who have teens, this can be especially important. The Guide reports that 92 percent of teens go online daily and 24 use the internet almost constantly.

Avoid Toys with Known Dangers

You can also improve your child’s safety by avoiding toys with known hazards. You can look up recent toy recalls using the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.

Further, check this article in the Huffington Post about World Against Toys Causing Harm Lists 10 Most Dangerous Toys this Holiday Season. Included on the list are the Kid Connection doctor play set, Leonardo’s Electronic Stealth Sword, a foam dart gun, and more.

Be Careful When Charging Batteries

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that adults supervise all battery charging. According to the CPSC website, battery chargers and adapters can cause burns to young children.

What to Do If a Dangerous Toy Harms Your Child

As a parent, your child’s safety is a top priority. Unfortunately, dangerous toys are not always recalled as quickly as they should be, and your child may be harmed as a result of a defectively manufactured or defectively designed toy. If this is the case, you should know that you have the right to legal recourse. A defective products attorney can guide you through everything that you need to know.

At Frank Jenkins Law Office, our Kentucky personal injury lawyers have experience in product liability law, and know what it takes to pursue a claim when a dangerous toy causes injury to a chil. To learn more about how we can be of service to your family, we encourage you call our offices or contact us online.