It’s a holiday tradition for many families: handing out gifts and sharing in kids’ joy and excitement as they unwrap much-anticipated new toys. But before wrapping your holiday purchases for the little ones in your life, it’s a good idea to make sure each gift is safe for the child who will receive it.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 154,700 children ages 12 and younger were treated in U.S. emergency rooms due to toy-related injuries in 2023. Ten children died in toy-related incidents.

Here are tips to keep the holidays safe for children:

• Choose age-appropriate toys. Age labeling is provided for developmental and safety reasons. Consider the child’s abilities, skill and interest level.

• When shopping online, know the seller. Purchase toys from stores and online retailers you know and trust.

• When purchasing toys and games online that contain small parts, balls, marbles and balloons, look for a choking hazard warning statement.

• Purchase safety gear, including helmets, for scooters and other riding toys – and make sure that children use safety gear every time.

• Don't give young children toys with small parts. Young kids tend to put things in their mouth, increasing the risk of choking.

• Use extra care with toys that have small batteries (button or lithium coin) or super-strong magnets. These can get loose and be a risk for young children. Small children may try to put batteries and magnets in their nose, mouth or ears, which can be very dangerous.

• Do not allow children to play with water beads, which are often sold as toys, in craft kits, as sensory tools for children with developmental disabilities or for agricultural use. Water beads can be deadly when children ingest them. Even if you try to keep water beads away from your kids, the beads can easily scatter and roll where children can find and ingest them. The only way to remove the hazard is to remove them from the home.

• Keep small balls and toys with small parts away from children younger than age 3, and keep deflated balloons away from children younger than age 8.

• To prevent serious ear injury, don't buy toys that make loud or shrill noise.

• Choose well-made stuffed animals. The eyes, nose and other small parts should be fastened securely.

• Choose toys made of durable materials with no sharp edges or points.

• Never buy hobby kits, like chemistry sets, for children younger than age 12.

• Don't buy toys that shoot or have parts that fly off. They can cause serious eye injuries or choking.

• Look for the letters ASTM on the toy packaging. This means that a toy or product meets the national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. Electric toys should be "UL approved." Check the label to be sure.

We’ve all seen children who are just as interested in playing with the wrapping paper and packaging as they are in the toy. But that can be dangerous. Once the gifts are open, immediately discard plastic wrappings or other packaging on toys so that kids aren’t tempted to play with them.

Sources:
The StayWell Company, LLC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission