How to Make Sure Your Baby Products Are Safe and Legal
Choosing safe products for babies can be confusing, particularly given all of the newfangled gadgets with complex features available.
In addition, keeping up with countless product recalls can be overwhelming.
Below are some tips on how to ensure that toys and other products are safely made for babies and small children.
Manufacturing and Distribution One of the best ways to ensure that products are safely designed for babies and children is to determine that they are legally manufactured and distributed.
InGenuity, Bright Starts, Baby Einstein, and Rhino Toys are all trusted, legal brands designed with safety and innovation in the U.
S.
Websites such as those below list safe baby products and some provide instructions or demos on how to use them properly: a.
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission hosts videos and other safety information.
b.
Americans Working lists furniture, toys and other products that were constructed according to U.
S.
safety standards.
c.
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association has a certification program that requires safety, quality and functionality.
d.
Product manufacturers may be contacted for information and assistance.
e.
Baby Center and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have recall databases.
It is also possible to join mailing lists to receive the latest news about recalls.
Safety Tips When purchasing items for babies, consider the below information to ensure that products are safely designed and constructed for use.
a.
Ensure that the item or toy to be purchased is age appropriate for the child.
Most all toys have recommended ages listed on the packaging.
b.
Check for safety seals on the product box such as the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) seal on electrical items.
Special Considerations a.
Many infants enjoy baby rockers and swings.
As long as the baby is strapped in well and not left unattended, they are safe to use.
b.
Toys such as stuffed animals given away at fairs, carnivals and sold in vending machines are not required to meet specific safety standards.
Therefore, always check carefully for any loose parts or sharp edges prior to giving them to an infant.
c.
Bouncers and walkers are other useful items for babies which can give them the freedom to move about.
Ensure that they are safely designed and never leave a baby unattended in them.
d.
Avoid coins, small balls, marbles and games with smaller parts since they can be swallowed, become suck in the windpipe and restrict breathing.
Guidelines Always follow manufacturer, age and use recommendations.
Toys with small parts may cause choking, so heed package warnings.
Ensure that toys are large enough so that they cannot be swallowed and stuck in the windpipe.
For example, if an object fits inside of a toilet paper roll, it is too small for the baby to play with.
When checking for safety, ensure that toys are unbreakable and durable enough to withstand being chewed.
Also ensure that it does not have: a.
Sharp or small parts like wheels, eyes and buttons b.
Smaller ends that may extend into a baby's throat c.
Strings longer than 7 inches d.
Battery operated items need to be secured so that they cannot be pried open Unsafe and Illegal Products Despite examining a product for the baby, if there is a suspicion that it was not designed safely or is illegal, consult with a lawyer who specializes in defective toy and product liability matters.
They will be able to advise consumers on how best to proceed, whether an injury or illness has occurred yet or not.
There are cases when lawsuits may be filed to prohibit an unsafe product from being distributed and damages awarded if there was a chance of incurring an injury.
Whenever choosing baby products, whether they are bought, borrowed or given as gifts, always ensure the baby's safety by thoroughly examining the product.
If there is any doubt that it is safe, it is best to refrain from using it.
By doing your homework, you will gain peace of mind and find that there are many options designed to stimulate babies safely, such as multipurpose products like safe and stationary activity centers, bouncers, rockers, swings and other toys.
In addition, keeping up with countless product recalls can be overwhelming.
Below are some tips on how to ensure that toys and other products are safely made for babies and small children.
Manufacturing and Distribution One of the best ways to ensure that products are safely designed for babies and children is to determine that they are legally manufactured and distributed.
InGenuity, Bright Starts, Baby Einstein, and Rhino Toys are all trusted, legal brands designed with safety and innovation in the U.
S.
Websites such as those below list safe baby products and some provide instructions or demos on how to use them properly: a.
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission hosts videos and other safety information.
b.
Americans Working lists furniture, toys and other products that were constructed according to U.
S.
safety standards.
c.
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association has a certification program that requires safety, quality and functionality.
d.
Product manufacturers may be contacted for information and assistance.
e.
Baby Center and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have recall databases.
It is also possible to join mailing lists to receive the latest news about recalls.
Safety Tips When purchasing items for babies, consider the below information to ensure that products are safely designed and constructed for use.
a.
Ensure that the item or toy to be purchased is age appropriate for the child.
Most all toys have recommended ages listed on the packaging.
b.
Check for safety seals on the product box such as the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) seal on electrical items.
Special Considerations a.
Many infants enjoy baby rockers and swings.
As long as the baby is strapped in well and not left unattended, they are safe to use.
b.
Toys such as stuffed animals given away at fairs, carnivals and sold in vending machines are not required to meet specific safety standards.
Therefore, always check carefully for any loose parts or sharp edges prior to giving them to an infant.
c.
Bouncers and walkers are other useful items for babies which can give them the freedom to move about.
Ensure that they are safely designed and never leave a baby unattended in them.
d.
Avoid coins, small balls, marbles and games with smaller parts since they can be swallowed, become suck in the windpipe and restrict breathing.
Guidelines Always follow manufacturer, age and use recommendations.
Toys with small parts may cause choking, so heed package warnings.
Ensure that toys are large enough so that they cannot be swallowed and stuck in the windpipe.
For example, if an object fits inside of a toilet paper roll, it is too small for the baby to play with.
When checking for safety, ensure that toys are unbreakable and durable enough to withstand being chewed.
Also ensure that it does not have: a.
Sharp or small parts like wheels, eyes and buttons b.
Smaller ends that may extend into a baby's throat c.
Strings longer than 7 inches d.
Battery operated items need to be secured so that they cannot be pried open Unsafe and Illegal Products Despite examining a product for the baby, if there is a suspicion that it was not designed safely or is illegal, consult with a lawyer who specializes in defective toy and product liability matters.
They will be able to advise consumers on how best to proceed, whether an injury or illness has occurred yet or not.
There are cases when lawsuits may be filed to prohibit an unsafe product from being distributed and damages awarded if there was a chance of incurring an injury.
Whenever choosing baby products, whether they are bought, borrowed or given as gifts, always ensure the baby's safety by thoroughly examining the product.
If there is any doubt that it is safe, it is best to refrain from using it.
By doing your homework, you will gain peace of mind and find that there are many options designed to stimulate babies safely, such as multipurpose products like safe and stationary activity centers, bouncers, rockers, swings and other toys.