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Kids love toys and parents love spoiling their kids with them!

The right toys can aid in the development of children’s imagination and coordination. Toys are crucial tools for assisting in the social, mental, physical, and emotional development of children. But, the wrong ones have the potential to cause more harm than benefit.

Each year, tens of thousands of children are taken to the emergency department due to toy-related accidents. When parents offer their young children toys designed for older children, many injuries occur. Believe it or not, your child’s favorite toy may include hazardous and poisonous substances like Lead and BPA, which is why parents should be extra cautious about the toys they purchase for their children.

Thus, it becomes extremely important that parents only buy toys, which have been through toy testing and are of the prescribed Indian Standards.

Indian Standards for Safety of Toys

As per the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020 published by DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the safety of toys has been brought under mandatory BIS certification with effect from September 1, 2020. The goal of enacting the Toys (Quality Control) Order is to ensure that children’s toys are safer, as well as to reinforce the government’s current policy of limiting non-essential imports. According to sources, India imports over 85% of the toys it sells in its domestic market, and the Toys Quality Control Order is one of the most important tools for stopping the flow of cheap, substandard toys into the Indian Market.

For example, for Non-Electric Toys (these are ordinary toys such as rattles, dolls, puzzles, etc. which do not have any function dependent on electricity) IS 9873 (Part 1):2019 is to be complied with. While for Electric Toys (these are toys which have at least one function dependent on electricity) IS 15644:2006 needs to be adhered to.

Hazards due to toys that are not tested by NABL Accredited Toys Testing Labs

• Cuts that may occur as a result of the toy’s sharp elements.
• Phthalates are found in PVC toys.
• Most toys contain lead, which is the most harmful product for the brain.
• Choking hazards or allergies can be caused by fur or hair.
• Anybody part can get stuck in the gaps and holes.

Toy testing done by NABL Accredited Toys Testing Labs ensures that only safe and age-appropriate toys reach your children, that is why it is important to look for the IS marks on the toys before buying!

Tips for buying toys for your children!

• Keep an eye out for little pieces: Toys with small pieces should not be given to toddlers or little children. These children have a proclivity for putting items in their mouths, which increases the danger of choking.
• Appropriate for the age group: Toys should be chosen based on a child’s age, talents, skills, and level of interest. Toys that are overly advanced can be hazardous to children’s health.
• Look for IS marks: The IS marks give surety of the toy’s safety and is proof that it has been tested and is in compliance with Indian Standards!
• Steer away from loud, noisy toys!: Children’s hearing loss can be caused by long-term use of toys that produce noise at 85 decibels or greater. Prefer to play with toys that do not make any noise.
• No heat: Avoid toys with heating electric elements; these pose the risk of getting burst and even causing severe burns.
• Avoid sharp toys: Toys with a sharp end or element, including those with a shooting component, can cause significant cuts and injuries to your child. Always feel the product when shopping for toys to confirm its safety.

Follow the above tips next time you shop for toys for your children.

One more extra tip, avoid older toys, including hand-me-downs from relatives and friends. Those toys may have nostalgic value and are unquestionably less expensive, but they may not satisfy modern safety requirements and may be worn to the point of breaking and posing a threat.

The best way to ensure the safety of your child is to go for toys that have been from NABL accredited toy testing labs. Remember to read the labels and do your research before toy shopping!