Doctor Offers Advice For Safe Toy Buying

toys-safe
toys-safe

Toy-related injuries sent nearly 200,000 kids to emergency rooms last year. Many of the injuries and deaths were associated with choking on small toys or objects. Health experts like Dr. Adam Keating at Cleveland Clinic Children’s told Michigan News Network it is critical to give age-appropriate gifts, especially when it comes to kids under age three.

“We know that kids under three have a propensity for putting things in their mouths,” Keating said. “It’s how they developmentally explore the world, and anything that’s smaller than what you can fit through a toilet paper roll is a choking hazard.”

Keating says if you’re buying a toy for an older child, its important to be aware of any younger siblings in the home who may also have access to the gift. If a bike, scooter, or hover board is on your child’s wish list, Keating says be sure you pair it with a helmet.