Keeping toys safe 

Here are a few tips for for avoiding unsafe toys and enjoying toys to the full with confidence in their quality:

• Look for the Lion Mark, which is a sign that the company is a member of the BTHA. BTHA members sign up to a strict code of conduct which ensures toys meet current safety legislation, and in some cases surpass the legal requirements. Not all members carry the symbol on their packaging, but all meet the same safety requirements. If you would like to check whether a toy you are looking at is made by our members, click here, for a full membership list. 
• If in any doubt as to where to buy your toys, always go to reputable retailers. Apart from anything else if a toy is not working as it should, you want to be able to return goods easily.  Reputable retailers wish to take care about the quality and safety of the products they stock  and also have their reputations to protect. 
• Ensure you - and others such as grandparents -  read and follow the recommended age labelling - particularly the 0 to 3 symbol and the words ‘not suitable for children under 36 months'.  Toys that are suitable for an older child may not be suitable for younger brothers or sisters.  This age warning is not a guide to the ability level of a child but is specifically there to guard against small parts and potential choking hazards for babies and toddlers.  When consumers see messages such as ‘recommended for children age 5 to 7'  this relates to the manufacturer's view of the play value the toy can deliver rather than safety aspects.  Obviously this is only general guidance as all children differ in their   abilities. Click here to see the symbols you should be looking out for.
• In addition to the safety symbols a toy should have the name and address of the manufacturer or importer on the box along with the serial number. Keep these details, with any additional instructions from inside the box. You can then more easily contact the company if the toy is not working as it should.
• Toys made by reputable manufacturers go through a wide range of tests to ensure that the relevant UK standards are met.  However, even the best made toys get broken.  Discard all broken toys and don't be tempted to pass them on to charity shops or car boot sales. 
• It is good practice to check toys for sharp or rough edges and, for soft toys, check that eyes and noses are securely fastened and that seams are sturdy and well sewn before handing toys to children.
• Keep the packaging and plastic bags away from children.  Do recycle as much toy packaging as you can.  Plastic bags, cardboard and paper are increasingly easy to recycle when separated from plastic windows, many of which themselves are now recyclable. Do read and keep the instructions and the details of your toy in a safe place, though.
• Never allow children to hold noisy toys very close to their ears - or yours!
• Broken balloons should be discarded at once. 
• Where toys have batteries, remove batteries during periods where they are not being played with - and when you change batteries, don't mix new and old batteries.  Adults should always perform the function of recharging batteries. 
• Many accidents with toys are as a result of toys being tripped over - particularly on the stairs at home.  Teaching children to put away toys is not easy but is very important.  Falls on stairs can result in serious injury.  Helmets and safety gear should be worn with ride-on toys.

There are toys that are poorly made and sold by unscrupulous individuals looking to cheat the public and reputable toy makers and retailers. 

Look out for transient salesmen who will not be around to take back broken goods and if you see very cheap toys ask where they have come from - they may be counterfeit (counterfeit toys are unlikely to have undergone ANY safety tests).

Trading Standards Officers do a great job in protecting the public from counterfeit and dangerous goods and the BTHA supports the work they do. There will always be some that slip through though, so be vigilant.