The one thing every parent wants for his child is safety. Even when choosing toys for your precious little one it’s well worth to check whether the toy is totally safe.
Your child is protected by safety laws that require that everything sold is reasonably safe. Manufacturers, importers and Trading Standards Officers together spend millions of pounds each year making sure new products are safe. Look for these signs that show goods are up to safety standards.
British and European Standards are drawn up by manufacturers, safety experts and others to establish minimum quality standards. By law, goods should pass the safety sections of these standards. They are often marked on the packaging of the product, and in some cases are on the product itself:
Child Safety Seats: ECE R44.03; Children's Toys: EN71; Cots: EN716; Fireguards: BS 6539; High Chairs: BS 5799; Pushchairs and Prams: BS 7409; Safety Gates: EN1930; Smoke Alarms: BS 5446.
When purchasing a toy you should always ensure that it carries any mark which signifies toy quality and its adherence to toy safety regulations. It is important to be aware that if a toy does not carry one of these marks, it may be designed as a novelty item and not be safe for children.
Additionally, you should always check the age range displayed on the toy's packaging and only ever allow children access to a toy once they are above the minimum age range specified.
These marks you should search for are:
The Kite Mark
When you see a toy or product with a Kite mark this means that the British Standards Institution has independently tested it and has confirmed that the product conforms to the relevant British Standard, and has issued a BSI license to the company to use the Kite mark. The manufacturer pays for this service and their product is tested, and the manufacturing process is assessed, at regular intervals.
The Kite mark is the symbol that gives consumers the assurance that the product they have bought really does conform to the appropriate British Standard and should therefore be safe and reliable.
Manufacturers are not legally required to display a Kite mark on their products, but many child products will most likely have them displayed.
The CE Mark
It is an enforcement mark (not a sign of quality or safety) and was established to ensure free movement of product throughout the European Union - a sort of passport for toys.
Its purpose is to indicate to authorities that the toys bearing it are intended for sale in the European Community, that they meet the essential safety requirements of the European Toy Safety Directive and are entitled to access European Community markets.
There may be warnings written by the mark and these should be heeded. A toy that is safe for a 5 year old may be dangerous when played with by a younger child. Anything that looks like a toy but does not have a CE mark should not be given to a child.
The Lion Mark
The Lion Mark was developed in 1988 by the British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) as a symbol of toy safety and quality for the consumer.
To display the Lion Mark, a BTHA member must have signed a strict Code of Practice with the Association which sets out the terms of its use which, as well as covering toy safety matters, demands the highest standards of ethics in advertising. Failure to abide by these terms will lead to revocation of the licence.
Unlike the CE Mark, therefore, the Lion Mark is truly a consumer symbol. It means that consumers can be assured that a toy which bears the Lion Mark is safe and conforms to all relevant safety information.
While the Lion Mark is only used by BTHA members, its membership includes many major international and European companies. In all, the BTHA members supply around 95% of all toys sold in the UK.
The Lion Mark for Retailers (Approved Lion Mark Retailer)
The British Association of Toy Retailers (TRA) joined with the British Toy and Hobby Association in 1991 to develop the Lion Mark for use by retailers. Members of the TRA also follow a strict Code of Practice which demands they only sell products conforming to EN 71.
This symbol displayed in the shop, in catalogues and in retailer advertising, indicates that the retailer has agreed to the Code of Practice and as such, is prepared to make strenuous efforts not only to offer safe toys for sale, but to ensure management and staff are briefed on toy safety matters such as age warnings and similar.
Displaying sing in the shop does not mean that all products in the shop carry the Lion Mark but that all products meet the Toy Safety Standard.
Age Warning
This pictogram began appearing on toys in 1995 and means Warning - do not give the toy to children less than three years, nor allow them to play with it.
With the symbol, or in instructions included in the pack, will be given details of the hazard, e.g. "because of small parts". This symbol replaces the warning "not suitable for children under 3 years", which has often been confused with age advice - those discretionary guidelines used by the manufacturer to help the buyer match the product with a child's age, interest and ability.
Other Toy Safety Tips
Due to the strict regulations imposed on toy manufacturers, the safety of toys themselves isn't the major problem. Instead, the majority of accidents occur when toys are left lying around the home and when young children have access to toys designed for older children.
To help keep your children safe check toys thoroughly for small, removable parts before giving to children (especially those under 3). Never allow a child under 3 years of age access to a toy, or a toy with components that could fit in a 35mm camera film container (as it will also easily fit into child’s mouth).
Keep all magnets and toys with magnetic components away from children under 6 years of age (as if 2 or more are swallowed they could cause internal damage). Do not allow children to play with toys made of fluffy fabric or 'hair' that can easily be sucked, chewed or pulled out.
Avoid giving children under 6 toys with long ribbons or ropes attached. Regularly check the condition of your children's toys and dispose of any showing signs of wear and tear. Encourage your children to play with just one toy at a time.
By taking the above safety tips into consideration and providing your children with constant supervision whilst they are playing, the risk of toy related accidents will be minimised.
