Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Expert advice on how to ensure your child’s toys are safe…
BE CAREFUL BUYING ONLINE
Not everything online platforms sell is supplied by them.
Kerri Atherton of the British Toy and Hobby Association warns: “We have become increasingly concerned about the sale of unsafe toys by third-party sellers via online marketplaces, after our recent study found nearly half the toys tested were unsafe and failed to meet essential toy safety requirements. Consumers should take extra caution when purchasing toys online to know who they’re buying from.”
COMPARE SELLERS
Bargains may be too good to be true, warns the Office for Product Safety and Standards, which suggests people buying toys should compare the price with other sellers and warns that if it’s a great deal cheaper, it’s likely to be counterfeit.
CHECK ONLINE SELLERS
If a toy is sold by a company you’ve never heard of that doesn’t have a UK or EU address, and the price is low, be aware that it may be illegal and unsafe.
The organisation says unsafe, illegal toys can include those with super-strong magnets that can rip through a child’s belly if swallowed, toys with accessible button batteries that can burn through a child’s food pipe if swallowed, toys with long cords, ribbons or cables that can strangle children, and cheap electrical toys with chargers that can catch fire or wires that can cause electric shocks.
“Look for UK companies who comply with UK toy safety standards, as marketplaces aren’t responsible for safety testing,” says Katrina Phillips.
CHECK AGE AND SAFETY WARNING
Check the safety and age warnings on toys and make sure the toy is appropriate for the age of your child.
CHECK FOR APPROVED SAFETY MARKS
Look out for the CE mark or Lion Mark – these show a toy has been made to approved safety standards. The UKCA mark also shows a toy conforms to UK law.
DON’T ASSUME OLD TOYS REMAIN SAFE
Check well-loved toys have no loose parts or loose stuffing or filling that may be swallowed.
CHECK FOR LOOSE WIRES
It’s also important to look out for any loose wires or button battery compartments that are not secured.
BEWARE OF SHARP PLASTIC
Old toys have usually been through the wars and could become unsafe as a result, and Katrina suggests: “Watch out for very old toys where the plastic has become flimsy and is likely to break, creating sharp points.”