Buy toys safely this Christmas!

New guidance has been produced by the Office for Product Safety and Standards this Christmas to help individuals and organisations buy toys safely for children.

Before buying toys for Christmas, some safety checks should be taken. It is important that toys are bought from widely recognised sellers, known to sell safe and reliable toys.

When buying online, find out as much as you can about the seller, and remember not everything sold on an online platform is supplied by them directly.

Some of the following can help make sure toys are safe and age appropriate:

• always read the warning and instructions. Toys should be marked with age restrictions based on small parts or choking hazards;
• consider special needs. Children with special needs may be more vulnerable, and age recommendations may not be appropriate;
• compare sellers. If a toy price seems to good to be true, it might be;
• check for button batteries. Any button batteries should be secured behind a screw down flap with no way for children to access them;
• avoid toys with small parts that could be choking hazards;
• look out for strangulation hazards. This could include lose ribbons or strings;
• follow age recommendations;
• check the toys are made for children.

Even after buying what may appear to be a safe toy, you can check for product recalls to make sure the toy you have bought has not been recalled here.

For more information, see:

• Buy toys safely for this Christmas.