Key points to remember
- Only purchase toys that meet Australian safety standards (AS/NZS ISO 8124).
- Do not assume all toys for sale are safe; always check before buying them. Be especially careful buying second-hand toys.
- Always buy toys that are age-appropriate for your child.
- Inspect toys to ensure they are not broken, brittle, tearing, or falling apart. These parts can be a choking risk.
- Supervise your child when they use new toys for the first time.
- Call an ambulance (000) immediately if you think your child has swallowed magnets or a button battery.
Toys provide children with hours of fun and are an important part of learning and development. They can entertain, educate, comfort, support, develop skills, and provide exercise. Children benefit most from toys that challenge, comfort, and interest them.
Providing your child with good-quality toys will ensure they get the most benefit from them and they last for many years. However, some toys can be dangerous or poorly constructed, which can result in serious injuries, including choking and strangulation.
Choosing safe toys for your child
Toys sold in Australia need to meet safety
standards (AS/NZS ISO 8124); however, you should not assume all toys for sale are safe. Be aware that toys sold in cheap variety stores, in markets and online are less likely to meet safety standards than those sold in large toy shops and department stores.
Safe toy checklist
- Check that the toy meets the Australian safety standard.
- Choose toys appropriate for the age of your child. Some toys are not suitable for young children because they have small parts that pose a choking hazard. Follow the age recommendations on toy packaging – these recommendations relate to the toys’ safety and not to the intelligence or capability of the child using the toy.
- Inspect the toys to see if they look well-designed and well-made. They should not have any sharp edges as these can cause injuries.
- Check for choking hazards – particularly, small parts a child could break off and put into their mouth, nose or ears.
- Consider the risk of body parts like fingers getting stuck – warning labels do not always list these as risks.
- Avoid toys that shoot off projectiles, as these can cause serious injuries to the eyes and other parts of the body.
- Look for toys that are non-toxic and non-flammable.
- Be aware that young children like to chew on things. Do not buy foam toys (such as bath blocks) for children under three years old, as they may pose a choking hazard if children bite pieces off them.
- If a toy requires safety equipment, such as a helmet for a scooter or bike, it is best to buy this when you buy the toy.
Be especially careful when buying second-hand toys. They may be old, worn, and more likely to break, and they may not come with the original packaging, which lists critical safety information. Avoid second-hand toys with flaking paint – older toys, in particular, may have toxic lead in the paint.
Using toys safely
Christmas holidays and birthdays are peak times for toy-related injuries, as children receive and try out new toys. Supervise young children as they learn to use their new toys until they are confident.
Some tips to avoid toy-related injuries for your child include:
- Avoid mixing and storing toys for children of different age ranges together – it can be dangerous if younger children play with toys meant for older children.
- Clear out your child’s toy box regularly. Check for toys with loose fur, ripped seams, and broken parts with sharp edges or loose pieces. If you find broken or damaged toys, do not give them to others – dispose of them appropriately. Some areas ban e-waste from landfills, so check your local restrictions.
- Tidy up and teach children to put things away when they finish with them – having a messy floor can be a trip hazard.
- Avoid toys with small parts for babies and young children. Anything smaller than a fifty-cent piece is a choking hazard, including marbles, small building blocks, and small bouncy balls.
- Keep toys with strings away from young children, including mobiles within reach above cots. Strings can pose a strangulation risk.
- Keep soft toys away from sleeping babies under 12 months, as they may cover your baby’s nose and mouth and interfere with breathing.
- Keep water beads away from babies and young children. If a child swallows a water bead, it can significantly expand in their throat or intestines, causing a blockage.
- Always change the batteries in a toy all at once – new batteries can cause old batteries to get dangerously hot if they are not changed together.
- Supervise your child when playing with toys containing magnets, and keep them out of the reach of babies and younger children. Swallowing magnets can cause serious injury or death.
- Be aware of toys containing button batteries – make sure the battery compartment is tightly secured. Anything that lights up, has moving parts or makes sounds will likely have a button battery. Swallowing button batteries can cause serious injury or death.
Key points to remember
- Only purchase toys that meet Australian safety standards (AS/NZS ISO 8124).
- Do not assume all toys for sale are safe; always check before buying them. Be especially careful buying second-hand toys.
- Always buy toys that are age-appropriate for your child.
- Inspect toys to ensure they are not broken, brittle, tearing, or falling apart. These parts can be a choking risk.
- Supervise your child when they use new toys for the first time.
- Call an ambulance (000) immediately if you think your child has swallowed magnets or a button battery.
Common questions about toys for children
What sort of toys are likely to have button batteries?
Generally, any toy that lights up, has moving parts or makes sounds may contain a button battery. Check the battery is properly secure; if you are not sure, dispose of the toy appropriately.
How can I find out which toys have been recalled due to safety concerns?
You may find product recall notices in newspapers or displayed in the shops that sold the product. Some companies use social media to let customers know about product recalls. However, these recall notices are easy to miss. All product recalls in Australia are listed on the ACCC’s Product Safety Australia website on the Recalls page – look under ‘Babies and kids.’
My child loves ‘squishy’ toys. Are they safe?
Squishy toys are banned in some countries as they can contain harmful levels of chemicals. If you want to purchase squishy toys, avoid buying them from markets or cheap variety stores, and check the packaging to ensure that the toy meets Australian standards. Do not give squishy toys to young children, and do not allow your child to place them in their mouth.
For more information
Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Trauma department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.
Reviewed November 2024
Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.