Toy and Decoration Safety During the Holidays {#HealthyLiving}

‘Tis the season for safety during the holidays!!

The holidays are a time for family and fun — and are often when many new toys and decorations come into the home. Some of these could contain hidden health and safety hazards if not used properly.

Toys and gifts

  • Choose only those items that are suitable for your child’s age group.
  • Read and follow all instructions for any new toy.
  • Remember that toys with small parts are a choking hazard for children under three years.
  • Make sure batteries not accessible to children and are properly installed by an adult .
  • Dispose of packing materials (such as Styrofoam pellets and plastic bags) immediately — children could choke or suffocate on these items.

Holiday decorations

  • If you have a Christmas tree, keep it secured in a sturdy stand so that it can’t be knocked over easily.
  • Place the tree away from high-traffic areas, doorways, heating vents, radiators, stoves, fireplaces and burning candles.
  • Never leave a burning candle unattended and always keep candles out of the reach of children and away from anything that can catch on fire.
  • When putting lights on a tree, make sure there are no exposed wires and that no bulbs are broken or cracked.
  • Keep ‘bubble lights’ away from children — they contain a hazardous chemical that may cause irritation or burns if the bulb breaks.
  • Choose tinsel, artificial icicles and other trimmings made of plastic or non-leaded metals. Don’t let children put decorations in their mouths, as some may be harmful to their health.
  • Avoid decorations that are sharp, breakable or have small removable parts.
  • Keep trimmings and candles that look or smell like food away from children — they might try to eat them.  {I know from experience that this can happen!  When our daughter was three she took a “bite” of a red glass ornament, she was calling it an “apple”!!}

Related topics

  • Lead and Cadmium in Children’s Jewellery
  • Holiday Safety
  • Using Second-Hand Toys
  • Small parts in Toys
  • Soft Vinyl Toys
  • Furniture and Television
  • Batteries
  • Toy Safety
  • Magnets
  • General Toy Safety Tips

The information contained in this post was obtained from the Healthy Canadians website.

I Love Comments

*

CommentLuv badge