Guidance on Toys for Children under 3 years
An unsuitable toy may seriously injure a young child.
Age Labelling:
Check age guidance instructions on the packaging. Age labelling is the manufacturer’s guide to the consumer as the suitability of the product for a particular age group. This may be referring to the child’s mental and physical ability. For example, a toy marked aged 4-6 years is pitched for those ages where awareness and interest begins at the younger end and tails off at the higher end.However, it is critical that parents should not confuse this age grading with an age warning. If the toy is unsuitable for young children under 3 years it may, for instance, contain small parts. When the manufacturer warns “Not suitable for children under (age specified)” and/or the pictogram is displayed (see “A Look at Toy Safety”) this is not an age label, but a warning and parents should observe this.
Why are some toys not suitable for children under 3 years?
Besides obvious reasons such as the size or mental abilities of the young child, the other reasons are that safety regulations demand that the parts used in toys for children under 3 years must pass the Choke Hazard Test. The dimensions of this small test cylinder are critical, having been specifically designed to reflect the size of gullet in a child of 3 years and under.This test has dramatically reduced the incidence of choking on small items. The Choke Hazard test does not apply to toys for the over-threes.
“Under Supervision”
This phrase is featured on those toys (for example, those played with in water) which expect some form of adult involvement. It implies that while the manufacturer has made the product to the required safety standards, the product should not be used without adult supervision as the child might misuse it in play and therefore transform a safe toy into a dangerous one.Please select from the contents below
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