Toy Safety Checks Before You Buy a Holiday Gift
Six quick checks from the CPSC that take a minute in the store or at checkout.
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A toy can be fun and still wrong for the child. Most toy injuries are not about bad brands. They are about the wrong age, a small part, or a battery that gets out. A few checks before you buy cover most of it.
Key takeaways
- Follow the age label: it is about safety as well as skill.
- Toys for children under 3 must not have small parts.
- Keep magnets and button batteries away from young children.
Six checks
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Read the age label. The CPSC says to choose toys that suit the child's age, skills and interests, and to use the age label as a guide. A toy that is too advanced can be unsafe for a younger child.
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Check for small parts if the child is under 3. Under CPSC rules, toys meant for children under 3 cannot have small parts that are a choking hazard. A common home check: if a piece fits through a toilet paper tube, treat it as a choking risk. Do not pass an older child's toy to a toddler.
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Avoid small magnets under age 6. The CPSC advises against building sets with small magnets for children under 6. Swallowed magnets can cause serious injury.
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Check where the batteries are. Button cell and coin batteries are an ingestion hazard. The battery door should be secured, ideally with a screw. Keep spare batteries out of reach.
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Look at the build. Check for sturdy construction, tightly secured eyes and small parts, and no sharp points or edges. The CPSC says to avoid toys with sharp points or edges, and electric toys with heating elements, for children under 8.
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Check recalls before you wrap it. Search the toy's name on CPSC.gov recalls. This matters most for secondhand toys, older toys and anything bought from an unfamiliar seller.
Buying online
- Read the listing's age range, and check it again on the box.
- Buy from sellers you trust. Our guide to spotting fake reviews helps you judge a listing.
- Keep the box and receipt in case you need to return it. See holiday return policies.
- Check the price at a couple of stores. A gift card is a safe option too: see gift cards, and how to keep the full balance.
What to do with gifts from others
Not every gift will pass. It is fine to set aside a toy that is not right for the age, and to tell relatives which ages or sizes to avoid. A simple request on a gift list works well.
Ages 3 to 8: what changes
Once children are past the toddler stage, the small parts rule relaxes, but other checks stay. Keep an eye on batteries and magnets until age 6, and on sharp edges and heating elements until age 8. Pick toys with durable parts, and look them over now and then for cracks, loose pieces or broken edges, then repair or throw them out.
Your checklist for this week
- ☐ Write down each child's age and any toys already in the house.
- ☐ Check the age label and any small part warning before buying.
- ☐ Choose toys without small magnets for children under 6.
- ☐ Check the battery door and keep spare batteries away.
- ☐ Search CPSC.gov recalls for any secondhand toy.
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Safety guidance changes, so check the CPSC for current advice. Check current price before you buy. See our disclosure policy for details.
