Choosing safe toys (1130)

Toys don't have to be bought at a store or even specially made for babies. Here are some tips for choosing toys:

- Babies can put things in their mouths, but they can't always take them out. Never give babies toys smaller than 1½ inches on all sides. This can be checked by using a “choke-tube” or a cardboard toilet paper tube to measure the toys.

- Avoid toys with small parts that could come off, like plastic eyes on stuffed animals or the squeakers in rubber toys.

- Toys for babies should not be made from anything that could break or splinter.

- Don't give baby anything with sharp edges, points or corners that could hurt his mouth or eyes.

- Watch out for stuffed toys or foam toys. Be sure baby can't tear or bite off pieces on which she could choke.

- It is best to remove strings or ribbons from toys so baby can't get his neck or fingers trapped.

- Be sure to remove crib toys that fit across the crib by the time your baby is 5 months old, because by that time some babies can push up on their hands and knees, and they could fall over the toy and not be able to get down. This could cause choking.

- And, if your older children or pets have toys, be extra careful to see that small parts of these toys stay out of baby's reach.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has a toll-free number, 800-638-CPSC, you can call to ask questions or report problems with baby products. The CPSC web site is http://www.cpsc.gov/.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

Feel free to forward, post or reprint any of the "Solutions" in their entirely, but please credit http://www.solutions.psu.edu/ as the original source of information, and please do not change the content.