When toy shopping, read labels carefully and follow age recommendations. Remember, the toy industry does extensive research on child development to set these guidelines. Infant toys, such as rattles, squeeze toys, and teethers, should be big enough so they can't lodge in the child's throat. Avoid infant toys with long strings or ropes. They can easily entangle or even strangle small children.
Young children enjoy bright colored, lightweight toys.
Choose unbreakable toys without small parts such as removable eyes or limbs. Toys made from metal or glass are for older children. So are pointy objects such as play tools. Even innocent playthings like balloons cause injuries or even death. They are a deadly choking hazard for children under 3 years old.