Retailers anticipate a spending boom for the last full weekend of in-store shopping before Christmas as online shipping deadlines draw closer in Metro Detroit.
But when crossing items off of a child’s wish list, experts say safety should never be overlooked as there are some things parents and other gift-givers should know in the busy home stretch.
An exciting time for kids and new holiday toys can be risky if adults aren’t mindful.
“Kids are curious,” said Dr. Purva Grover. “That’s just how they are, and that curiosity can sometimes lead to, you know, um, accidents.”
Grover of Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital says ingesting toys’ small batteries and magnets is a worry in her pediatric emergency department.
“We are very careful about those kids who have ingested these potentially life-threatening objects, which are often part of toys or part of things around the house during holiday time,” Grover said.
It underscores the importance of reading the labeling on toy packaging to determine whether it’s age-appropriate.
“Often it will tell you if the product contains small parts or other hazards that would be inappropriate for those young children,” said Joan Lawrence, The Toy Association Senior Vice President for Standards and Regulatory Affairs.
Lawrence says U.S. toys must meet rigorous safety standards. But some online resellers may not be peddling the real deal.
“You’re going to wanna make sure that you shop with a retailer, you know, and trust you’re going to wanna do some research on the product, read the listing carefully,” Lawrence said. “Are there typos or inconsistencies in the description or the photos?”
And as smart toys continue to boom in the children’s space, Lawrence says a gift with an internet connection can be a good time for a talk about tech.
“Teach them about privacy, teach them about never sharing their information online or photos online, those kinds of things, um, teach them about having a password and changing it frequently,” Lawrence said.
One item raising safety concerns has been water beads. They’re small, colorful balls made of super-absorbent materials often sold as toys or in craft activity kits.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says from 2016 to 2022, hospital emergency rooms treated nearly 8,000 injuries related to water beads.
They are often ingested, which can cause problems because they expand when they absorb water. As a result, Amazon, Target, and Walmart have all decided to stop selling water beads that are marketed to children.