© iStockphoto.com / Anne Clark-
Adding an organ donation option to the average Facebook user's profile prompted a dramatic rise in potential donors, researchers report.More > Adding an organ donation option to the average Facebook user's profile prompted a dramatic rise in potential donors, researchers report.More > Children of women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol while pregnant don't appear to have any neurodevelopmental problems when it comes to balance, a new British study suggests.More > Children of women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol while pregnant don't appear to have any neurodevelopmental problems when it comes to balance, a new British study suggests.More > Concussion can lead to damage in the white matter of the brain that resembles abnormalities found in people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.More > Concussion can lead to damage in the white matter of the brain that resembles abnormalities found in people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.More > Plenty of Americans are eager to use their mobile phones and tablet computers to better manage their health care, a new poll finds -- though the nation has a way to go before we're all consulting Dr. Smartphone.More > Plenty of Americans are eager to use their mobile phones and tablet computers to better manage their health care, a new poll finds -- though the nation has a way to go before we're all consulting Dr. Smartphone.More > People with a "hardening" of the abdominal aorta are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke, according to a new study.More > People with a "hardening" of the abdominal aorta are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke, according to a new study.More > Black and Hispanic children with autism are markedly less likely than children from white families to receive specialty care for complications tied to the disorder, a new study finds.More > Black and Hispanic children with autism are markedly less likely than children from white families to receive specialty care for complications tied to the disorder, a new study finds.More > Eating breakfast every day may help overweight women reduce their risk of diabetes, a small new study suggests.More > Eating breakfast every day may help overweight women reduce their risk of diabetes, a small new study suggests.More > Strict controls on the sale of cigarettes to youth may also reduce adult smoking, a new study suggests.More > Strict controls on the sale of cigarettes to youth may also reduce adult smoking, a new study suggests.More > Being picked on by your brother or sister may seem like a normal part of growing up, but for some kids the bullying may be a source of depression and anxiety, a new study suggests.More > Being picked on by your brother or sister may seem like a normal part of growing up, but for some kids the bullying may be a source of depression and anxiety, a new study suggests.More > In a new finding sure to be shared with some skeptical parents, it seems that the brains of video game enthusiasts make better and faster use of visual input.More > In a new finding sure to be shared with some skeptical parents, it seems that the brains of video game enthusiasts make better and faster use of visual input.More >
FRIDAY, Nov. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Toy shopping season is here and experts urge parents and others to make sure any gifts they buy for children are safe and age-appropriate.
Here are some gift-giving tips from doctors at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the American Academy of Pediatrics:
- Read all warning labels carefully and consider a child's age, interests and skill levels when buying toys.
- Choose toys with sturdy construction and avoid those with sharp edges and points.
- Choking is one of the leading causes of toy-related deaths, and most of these choking deaths are due to tiny balls, latex balloons and small magnets. Any toy that will be accessible by children under age 3 should not have any parts that are smaller than 1 inch in diameter and 2 inches long, because these can lodge in a child's mouth or throat.
- Avoid toy jewelry that may contain lead or cadmium, both of which can be harmful to children.
- Don't give toys that must be plugged into an electrical outlet to children younger than 10. Give them battery-operated toys instead. Remember, though, that button batteries found in toys can become lodged in the throat and cause serious injury or death.
- Don't buy pull toys with strings longer than 12 inches. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.
- Store toys in designated areas, such as on a shelf or in a toy chest, and keep older children's toys away from younger children.
- If people offer you used toys that don't have warning labels, inspect them carefully and use your best judgment about whether to accept them.
- Some toys contain powerful magnets. If a child swallows more than one of these magnets, they can attract to one another and result in serious injury or death. If your child ingests one more magnets, seek immediate medical attention.
More information
The Nemours Foundation has more about choosing safe toys.
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
