Stuffed Animal Safety and Information

Are Stuffed Animals Safe for my Child?

April 6, 2008 on 7:01 am | In

WordPress database error: [Table 'freebear_wordp.stuffed_animals__post2cat' doesn't exist]
SELECT post_id, category_id FROM stuffed_animals__post2cat WHERE post_id IN (7)

Uncategorized | No Comments

This is a question we often get, especially with the concern about toys made in China.  Most stuffed animals come with a tag that states the age range that is appropriate for that toy.  The first step in selecting a stuffed animal for your child is to look at the tag and see the appropriate age range recommended by the manufacturer.  Of course, the best judge of how appropriate a toy is for a child is the adult that knows the child.  Just because a toy is recommended for a particular age range doesn’t mean it is not appropriate for older or possible even younger children.

Here are some other questions to consider when selecting a stuffed animal for your child:

Is the stuffed animal too big?  Don’t select a stuffed animal that is too big and heavy for your child.  This could result in injury.

Is the stuffed animal too small?  This is not usually an issue for stuffed animals, but make sure it is big enough to not pose a potential choking hazard for children under three years old since they like to put things in their mouth.  If a small toy will fit into a toilet paper roll, it is too small.  If the stuffed animal has attachments that might come off, then it is likely not appropriate for a young child unless you can remove the attachments and keep them separate until the child gets old enough to not put them in their mouth.  Always remove manufacturer’s tags before giving a stuffed animal to a small child.

Does the stuffed animal contain small magnets?  The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has listed small magnets as a dangerous hazard for small children that might swallow them.  If multiple small magnets can be removed from a stuffed animal and then subsequently be swallowed, they can come together and cause serious internal injury.  We recommend against getting any stuffed animal with small magnets for a child that might remove the magnets and swallow them.

Does the stuffed animal have a cord or tail longer than 12″?  A tail or other string can get wrapped around a young child’s neck and cause injury. 

Where can I get more information about toy safety?  We suggest a visit to the CPSC website at www.cpsc.gov for up to date information on product safety.  They have a section devoted to kids at Guidelines:  Relating Children’s Ages to Toy Characteristics and Play”.  You can download a pdf version this publication at www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/adg.pdf. 

Where can I buy a safe stuffed animal?  You can visit your local toy store and ask questions, or visit www.freebears.com and you will find a huge selection of stuffed animals and stuffed animal toys for all ages by the most respected stuffed animal manufacturers in the world.  They will answer your questions and help you select the perfect stuffed animal for your child.