Stuffed Animal Safety and Information

Dolls and Stuffed Animals Age Determination Guidelines (Ages 12 through 18 months), Part 5

September 4, 2008 on 6:55 am | In

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The following is an excerpt from the CPSC document referenced in Part 1.  This excerpt discusses babies aged 12 through 18 months.
  12 Through 18 Months
 The soft, simple, cuddly dolls and stuffed animals that were appropriate for infants are also appropriate for young toddlers. During this period, children start to engage actively in imitative play with dolls and stuffed toys based on familiar family relationships like mother and baby, or from watching television and other media. They are attracted to mid-size (10 to 16 inches) dolls and stuffed animals that offer simple cause-and-effect functions such as push buttons that produce simple sounds or phrases, lights, and actions. For the same reasons, these children like manipulating extremities or heads to create different postures and looks.
  Because young toddlers have a low degree of fine-motor dexterity and control, dolls and stuffed toys are best when they are easy to grip (for example, limbs ½ inch thick) and weigh no more than 4 to 8 ounces. Also, appropriate dolls and stuffed toys generally lack removable, loose, or projecting parts. Hand-sewn eyes with high contrast are commonly used over movable eyes.

Because these children still mouth toys a great deal, appropriate toys are washable or easily cleaned. Suitable dolls tend to have only molded hair, if any, and stuffed animals lack fur.