ALL AGES Read warning labels for age recommendations. Even the brightest child should not be given a toy labelled specifically for an older child. Toys meant for older children may have parts or strings that can choke or strangle a younger child. Always give a safety helmet with the gift of a bicycle. Bicycles are associated with about 300 deaths and 400,000 injuries annually to children under age 15.
Helmets decrease the risk of death and severe injury.
Buy the appropriate protective gear to complement all gifts of sporting equipment. For example, if you give a gift of in-line skates, be sure to buy a helmet and wrist, elbow, knee, and shin pads. Buy large rattles. Do not buy toys with small parts for children under 3 years old. This includes marbles, small balls and balloons, which can choke a young child.