British and European toy safety regulations ensure that the toys available in our shops are safe and well made. In fact, just 1.5 per cent of household accidents in the UK involve toys and these are rarely because of a fault with the toy itself. While all toys sold here must adhere to very strict safety standards, those intended for children under 36 months must meet particularly rigorous standards. In this article we look at the regulations that cover toys for younger children and advise you on what to watch out for when buying them.
By law, all toys sold in the UK must Bulk Glow Sticks Wholesale meet the standards set out in the Toy Safety Regulations that were updated in 1995. One quick and easy way for a parent to check that a toy meets UK and European safety standards is to check for the CE marking.
Also, most toys in Britain bear the Lion Mark which provides further assurance that the toy meets the highest safety standards. However, by law toys for younger children and especially toys that could pose a danger for children under 36 months must bear extra markings.
These toys must bear a warning such as ‘Not suitable for children under 36 months’. This warning must be accompanied by details in the instructions of the particular danger posed to younger children by the toy. Common examples of this would be ‘Choking hazard’ or ‘Sharp objects’. It is possible for these warnings not to appear on toys when it is plainly obvious that they are not suitable for children under 36 months.
Also, the toy safety regulations state that the level of risk associate a toy should reflect the age of the child who will play with it. “This applies in particular to toys which, by virtue of their functions, dimensions and characteristics, are intended for use by children under 36 months,” the regulations state. Also, if any toy requires adult supervision, then this must be clearly stated on the toy or its packaging.
While age warnings in text are acceptable by law, they have increasingly been replaced by a logo since 1995. The ‘grumpy baby’ logo warns that a toy should not be used by a child under three years, and has become a familiar warning symbol to many consumers. While the logo can replace a warning in text, the reason for the hazard must still be provided in the toy’s instructions.