Small parts from toys are an ever present choking hazard to children under 3, because children put everything in their mouths.
Despite the measures in place to protect children, 15 die annually from choking (CPSC#04-216). We don’t know how many parents/caregivers find and remove small parts from children’s mouths, without reporting the incident.
Government and Industry Safeguards:rnSmall parts are not allowed in toys that are intended for use by children under 3. So how come children die every year from choking?
The answer is not simple and sometimes involves conditions that are beyond the control of government and industry… but not beyond your control!
Small Parts Testing:
Toys for children under 3 first undergo a battery of “use and abuse” tests, which are designed to simulate the way children use them.
One test is to pull attached parts with 15 pounds of force (25 lbs. for European Tests). The objective is to identify parts which can come off during play which then create a choking hazard. Naturally, these toys should not have small parts to begin with.
A cylinder (which represents a child’s throat) is used to determine if a part is “small” or not. Parts which fit wholly inside on the cylinder, uncompressed, are classified as small parts and cause a product FAILURE! If the part remains attached to the main toy, then the whole toy must fit in the cylinder to fail. Paper and fabric parts are not tested. However, a small stuffed part IS tested.
Problems Arise Which Testing Can't Identify
In my experience there are conditions which can cause small parts to become detached weeks or even months later.
* Teething on attached parts (like buttons) can weaken and even tear the stitching which holds them.
* Repeated washing may weaken fabrics and threads, permitting attached small parts to come off with 15 or less pounds of pull.
Also toys that are already in your home, for children 3 and over, may have small parts. Unfortunately, these can easily wind up in your young child’s mouth.
What Should You Do To Safeguard Your Child?
Here are my recommendations. You have likely child-proofed your home already, but now it’s time to stand guard!
1. Buy a small part test cylinder NOW. They are inexpensive. (google small part toy tester)rn2. Check for small parts which are attached to the toys that your child currently plays with. You’ll soon know which parts could become a choking hazard, if they ever become detached. rn3. Imagine the weight of three five pound bags of sugar. This is the force you should use to pull on attached parts. Pull on the parts to see if they come off or not.rn4. If your child is in the height of teething, I recommend eliminating all toys that have small parts attached. Even if the parts withstand a pull today, repeated washing or continued teething may allow them come off and wind up in your child’s mouth.rn5. Inspect toys periodically after washing or continuous use/mouthing. rn6. Alert older children in the home of these hazards. By simply showing and demonstrating which of their toys could cause harm to a younger sibling, you reduce the risk and even gain another watchful eye.
MOST HAZARDOUS LIST:rnPom-poms, balloons (uninflated/broken), marbles, games with ballsrnTo Report A Small Part or any toy hazard/incident go to: CPSC.gov
Please visit Made Safe Toys, the Ultimate Parent Help Center at http://madesafetoys.org for tons of information on keeping your child safe from toys.