How to Determine If a Toy is a Choking Hazard

How can a parent determine if a toy is too small for their child? How will they know if the child can choke on the toy? If a toy is too small for a child, it will become a choking hazard to the child. Parents need to know how to determine if a toy is a choking hazard. Rule of thumb, if the toy fits in a child's mouth it is a choking hazard.

Choking hazards come in all forms. The scariest form of a choking hazard for a parent is a toy. Food can be a choking hazard too, but food is something a parent expects to see in a child's mouth. Parents usually watch closely while their child eats, they do not always pay as much attention when the child plays. Parents have to be conscience of what their child is doing while they are playing.

How to determine if a toy is a choking hazard:

Toy sized one and a half to two inches - According to Port St. John Pediatrics in Cocoa, Florida, any toy one and a half to two inches can be a choking hazard. A toy that is one and a half or two inches big easily fits in the child's mouth and can be swallowed obstructing the airway.

Toy fits in mouth - To err on caution, if the toy fits in the mouth, the toy should not be given to a child without adult supervision. A child may put a toy in his or her mouth when an adult is not looking and it could get lodged into the child's mouth and block his or her airway. Some children will chew on toys. The child may chew on the toy until the toy is small enough to choke him or her.

Toy has extended parts that may come off in the mouth - Although a toy may be extremely large, it probably has small extremities or extensions. If a toy has small extensions or extremities, the child could bite, pull, or otherwise dismember the toy consider that the toy will be a choking hazard. Parents need to check toys to see if they are breaking or coming apart before letting their child play, especially play unsupervised.

Age warning on toy - Toys are labeled for age appropriateness. Parents have to use their best judgment to determine whether or not the toy will be okay for their child. The age appropriateness is just a guideline because not all children are the same and some toys are mislabeled. The parent will have to determine if the child will stick the toy in their mouth. If a toy is labeled for under three years and you have an older child that still puts everything in his or her mouth, the toy can become a choking hazard.

Toys are unforeseen dangers to most parents. Children are not supposed to have toys in their mouths and toys should not fit in children's mouths. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Some children chew on everything. Toys are no exception. Toys parents buy thinking they are safe are not always accurately labeled for age appropriateness. Parents have to use their best judgment. Using these tips can help you save your child's life.