All children love their toys, but some can pose a hazard and the younger the child the greater this is. Any toys with small
parts can cause a child to choke if that part gets stuck in their throat. Even if the small part is actually attached to the toy, it is often ripped or broken off.
Buttons, eyes on teddies and other small parts like
magnets are dangerous. Magnets are especially bad as they can attach to another one - or any steel thing that may have also been swallowed - through the walls of the intestine and cause pinching or blockage. When choosing toys for your children make sure they are appropriate for the age and maturity. Most children under six are not ready for projectile-type toys. Three and four year olds are quite likely to use certain toys for instruments of destruction. Tiny brooms can be swung around causing damage to person and property.Make sure that toys don't have a string longer than 12 inches as it can pose a strangulation hazard. Take down mobiles from the crib as soon as the child can reach them. Yard sales are popular for buying toys these days, but be sure any used toy - or new toy for that matter - is not about to fall to bits. Watch for loose tails, ribbons, seams and buttons. Weight is also a consideration. If the toy can fall on a child and harm him, then don't buy it.