National Safe Toys and Gifts Month December 2023

                     

Important Dates

National Safe Toys and Gifts Month
12/4 Santa's List Day

12/6 St Nicholas Day

12/7-  12/15 Hanukkah

12/21 Winter Solstice
12/25 Christmas 
12/31 New Year's Eve

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year! It is a time to enjoy your family and be in the giving spirit! While you are enjoying your winter decorations and wrapping gifts, please don't forget about safety. This month's blog will focus on some things to help keep your kiddos protected this holiday season, as well as what to keep in mind when buying gifts for your little ones.

Winter Home Safety Tips

Kitchen
Clean and Check Range Hood
Clean Garbage Disposal
Inspect Hoses on Dishwasher, Ice Maker, and Fridge
Bedrooms and Living Areas
Check Flashlights, Replace Batteries
Hide Holiday Presents
Wipe Walls and Ceilings
Clean Lampshades
Basement
Service Generator
Vacuum and Dust HVAC System
Replace Furnace Filter
Bathrooms
Update First Aid Kit
Clean or Replace Shower Curtain
Hallways
Repair Steps and Banister
Test and Change Detector Batteries
Outside
Check for Ice Dams and Icicles
Install Outdoor Security Camera
Maintain Shoveled and Salted Walkway
Install Smart Holiday Lights

More details and a downloadable checklist at Safewise

Choosing Safe Toys

According to the American Public Health Association, "Prevent Blindness America has declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month. The group encourages everyone to consider if the toys they wish to give suits the age and individual skills and abilities of the individual child who will receive it, especially for infants and children under age three."

Some quick guidelines from APHA  for choosing safe toys this holiday season:

• Inspect all toys before purchasing. Avoid those that shoot or include parts that fly off. The toy should have no sharp edges or points and should be sturdy enough to withstand impact without breaking, being crushed, or being pulled apart easily.
• When purchasing toys for children with special needs try to: Choose toys that may appeal to different senses such as sound, movement, and texture; consider interactive toys to allow the child to play with others; and think about the size of the toy and the position a child would need to be in to play with it.
• Be diligent about inspecting toys your child has received. Check them for age, skill level, and developmental appropriateness before allowing them to be played with. 
• Look for labels that assure you the toys have passed a safety inspection – “ATSM” means the toy has met the American Society for Testing and Materials standards.
• Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear (give a helmet with the skateboard)
• Keep kids safe from lead in toys by: Educating yourself about lead exposure from toys, symptoms of lead poisoning, and what kinds of toys have been recalled; being aware that old toys may be more likely to contain lead in the paint; having your children wash their hands frequently and calling your doctor if you suspect your child has been exposed to lead. 
• Do NOT give toys with small parts (including magnets and “button” batteries which can cause serious injury or death if ingested) to young children as they tend to put things in their mouths, increasing the risk of choking. If the piece can fit inside a toilet paper roll, it is not appropriate for kids under age three.
• Do NOT give toys with ropes and cords or heating elements. 
• Do NOT give crayons and markers unless they are labeled “nontoxic”.

RECALLS:

November 22, 2023 CPSC; Worthington Industries recalled its Balloon Time Mini Helium Tanks because compressed helium can escape and cause the plastic cap to be released into the air unexpectedly, posing an injury hazard due to projectiles striking users and bystanders. Units: About 121,100. November 22, 2023 CPSC; Lenovo recalled its USB-C Laptop Power Banks because internal screws can come loose, causing a short circuit and overheating of the lithium-ion battery, posing a fire hazard. Lithium-ion batteries can cause fires and explosions if they are damaged or crushed and are a hazard when thrown in the trash. Units: About 2,850 (an additional ~510 in Canada). November 22, 2023 CPSC; PandaEar recalled its Stainless Steel Toddler Cups because the bottom exterior of the cups contains an accessible solder bead with levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. In addition, the lid can crack and break during use producing sharp edges and small parts, posing choking and laceration hazards to children. Units: About 1,600. November 22, 2023 CPSC; MI Windows and Doors recalled its Vinyl Sliding Glass Doors because the glass can separate from the frame during hurricane conditions which can pose a serious injury hazard. Units: About 1,900. November 21, 2023 NHTSA; Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) recalled certain 2023-2024 Accord and HR-V vehicles because a seat belt pretensioner missing a rivet will not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. Units: About 303,770. November 16, 2023 CPSC; Khaite recalled Women's high heeled sandals because the heels on the shoes can detach, posing a fall hazard. Units: About 1,860. November 16, 2023 CPSC; Tractor Supply Company recalled its Red Shed® Hammock Swing Chairs because a plastic buckle that supports the back of the chair can break when a consumer is seated in the chair, posing a fall hazard. Units: About 7,500. November 16, 2023 CPSC; Target recalled its Hearth & Hand with Magnolia 13-Piece Toy Mushroom Peg Sorters because the stems of the toy mushrooms can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. Units: About 1,850. November 16, 2023 CPSC; Stainless Steel Children’s Cups sold exclusively on Amazon by LAOION recalled because the bottom exterior of the stainless-steel cups contains an accessible solder bead with levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. Units: About 200. November 13, 2023 FDA; KinderFarms, LLC recalled all lots of KinderMed Infants’ Pain & Fever and KinderMed Kids’ Pain & Fever products because ongoing testing of sample batches indicated some product lots were no longer in specification and may pose a health risk. November 9, 2023 CPSC; IKEA recalled its LETTAN mirrors because the plastic fittings that attach the mirror to the wall can break, causing the mirror to fall, posing a laceration hazard to consumers. Units: 14,600 (an additional ~10,500 in Canada). November 9, 2023 CPSC; Twin-Star International recalled Style Selections 42-inch-wide Infrared Quartz Electric Fireplaces because they can overheat, posing a fire hazard. Units: About 14,670. November 9, 2023 CPSC; iMOONZZZ recalled its children’s nightgowns ail to meet the flammability standards for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries to children. Units: About 13,300.

November 9, 2023 CPSC; Magnolia Market recalled its 26 oz. 3-Wick Glass Candles because they were manufactured with the incorrect wax, which can cause excessive flames on the wicks and cause the glass candle containers to break, posing fire and laceration hazards. Units: About 4,350. November 2, 2023 CPSC; Dixon Ticonderoga recalled its Creativity Street Assorted Craft Buttons because the children’s craft buttons contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects. Units: About 890. November 2, 2023 CPSC; Murf recalled its electric bicycles because they do not meet the U.S. safety standard, posing fall and injury hazards to the rider. Units: About 9,000. November 2, 2023 CPSC; UncleWu Life recalled its infant bath seats because they fail to meet the federal safety regulation for infant bath seats, including requirements for stability and leg openings, and can tip over while in use, posing a drowning hazard to babies. Units: About 360. November 2, 2023 CPSC; Yoocaa recalled its baby loungers because they fail to meet the safety requirements of CPSC’s Infant Sleep Products Rule, creating an unsafe sleeping environment for infants and posing a suffocation risk and fall and entrapment hazards to infants. Units: About 4,140.