What To Consider When Buying Soft Toys For Children
By Thomas Pretty
It seems that as soon as a baby is born they receive a plethora of soft toys and other gifts. This process occurs even before the child is born, with well wishers attempting to second guess the baby's sex and buying 'neutral' gifts. These gifts come from all manner of people, from close members of the family to friends. This obsession with soft toys even continues into adulthood with some people, not only having a favourite cuddly toy from childhood but actively buying them to enhance an existing collection.
Today the marketplace is packed with different varieties of soft toys from the traditional teddy bear to more outlandish giant giraffes and elephants. Some of the more modern varieties even incorporate learning and development by having shapes and puzzles as well as audio and visual feedback. These kinds of toys are great for infants as they can help to develop cognitive abilities whilst remaining safe and fun.
Children seem to love soft toys as they become familiar and eventually become an important part of life, as much as friends and family. Some babies become strongly attached to particular soft toys, deciding not to go leave the house, or in some cases the room without it. This is where the correct toy can be useful; it can help to put a child at ease in strange situations and can also be useful leverage when bartering deals. There are however key concerns to make when buying soft toys, these are to do with safety and ensure the child is not exposed to unsafe or dangerous items.
The CE mark in the UK and in Europe gives parents an assurance that the toy in question meets certain safety standards, although it is not a consumer mark, it should still be checked for whenever buying toys for children. The lion mark is also included on many toy items; this mark pertains to British goods and means that the toy manufacturer is a member of the British Toy and Hobby Association. Membership of this association ensures that the manufacturer complies with BTHA's codes of practice; ultimately a toy with the lion mark should be safe and high quality. The final mark to look for especially when buying toys for babies is the 'Not Suitable for Children under 36 Months' logo. This logo means the toy should not be given to a child under three years old; normally toys with this mark have small parts that could be swallowed and understandably should not be given to smaller children.
As well as looking for these marks there are other factors to consider. One of theses considerations is to ensure that the toy in question is not too fluffy or whether the eyes are made of buttons. Both of these can be dangerous for very small children as buttons can be swallowed while excess fluff can cause asphyxiation. Additionally there should be no strings or ribbons attached to the toy that could also cause harm if dislodged. Children tend to chew and mouth their toys often so they should be solid with no detachable parts. Ultimately it is always worthwhile to look for the lion standard as this gives an indication of quality and safety, as does the CE mark. These two marks are the best way to find a safe and suitable toy.
Hopefully this article has given parents and anyone buying soft toys for young children an idea of the considerations that must be made before purchase. Get the choice right and it is possible to give the child a gift that they will treasure for the rest of their life.
About the author
Parenting expert Thomas Pretty gives consumer advice for those buying soft toys for children to ensure a safe item is purchased. from http://www.FreeArticlesAndContent.com
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