In a few weeks’ time it’s Christmas and we will soon need to start buying gifts for our loved ones.
For children aged under three, avoid toys having small parts- Odette Vella
For those who have to buy gifts for children, toys are very often the automatic choice. Once we decide we want to buy a toy as a gift, our next question should be: What toys are best for the children concerned?
The kind of toy we choose to buy should, first of all, be safe. It should also be suitable for the age and skills of the child.
One important issue before buying a toy is age recommendation. This is important both for safety reasons and for making sure the toy is suitable for the child who is about to receive it.
For instance, a toy containing small parts is usually marked as ‘unsuitable for children under three years’. Small parts pose a choking danger.
For children aged under three, we should avoid toys having small parts that can fit inside a choke test cylinder measuring the size and shape of a young child’s throat.
Very young children also tend to pull and twist toys. Therefore, we should look for toys that are manufactured well – with tightly secured eyes, noses and other parts.
To avoid possible dangers, we should also look out for other warnings printed on the packaging of toys. This should not only be done by whoever is buying the toy but also by the child’s parents.
The instructions for use on the package should be carefully read. If a toy is given to our children, it is advisable to physically check out the toy ourselves.
We know how our children play with their toys and should make use of this knowledge to detect any possible dangers.
We should also keep the instructions and information that are packaged with the toy for future reference.
Packaging should be removed from children’s reach, especially plastic packaging, as there could be a risk of suffocation.
When we give our children a new toy to play with, we should spend some time supervising them. Playing with children teaches them how to play safely while having fun.
Another important safety tip is to look out for the CE mark. This should be printed on all toys placed on the market. The CE mark is a declaration by the toy manufacturer that the toy has been manufactured according to the essential safety requirements and can therefore allowed to be sold on the EU market.
The CE mark should be attached to the toy and should also be printed on its packaging in a visible and easily legible way that cannot be rubbed off or erased.
We should also look out for the name and address or trademark of the manufacturer, its agent or importer within the EU, since these are responsible for the toy if the it is unsafe.
Extra care should be taken when toys are bought from a street market or car boot sale.
Buying second hand toys should ideally be avoided, as old toys may not meet current safety standards and may be so worn from play that they break easily and become dangerous.
Should we decide to give such toys to our children to play with, it is important to check if there are sharp edges or nails or screws sticking out. Also check whether the toy is broken or has missing parts because this can make it very dangerous.
Sit- and ride- toys are to be checked for stability. If the toy uses batteries, we should check whether these are in a sealed area that a child cannot open.
With toys that make some sort of noise, we should make sure the volume is not too loud.
The noise made by some rattles, squeak toys and musical or electronic toys can be too loud if a child holds it directly to the ears.
If we come across unsafe toys, these can be reported to the Market Surveillance Directorate within the Technical Regulations Division of the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.
The directorate can be contacted on 2395 2000.
customer@timesofmalta.com
odette.vella@gov.mt
Ms Vella is senior information officer, Office for Consumer Affairs, Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.