Toy safety tips
Learn how to choose safe toys and keep children safe while they play.
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Before you buy
In Canada, toys must meet safety requirements to help protect children. However, unsafe toys can still make their way onto store shelves, online markets and into homes. Whether you’re buying new or used, check toys carefully before you buy them.
Check the age label
- A toy that is safe for an older child may be dangerous for a younger one.
- Follow the manufacturer’s recommended age range.
- Age labels provide information to help reduce the risk of choking, strangulation and hearing damage to younger children.
Read warnings and labels
- Only buy toys with clear safety warnings and the manufacturer’s contact information. If you have questions, contact the manufacturer.
- Avoid buying toys with missing or unclear labels.
Avoid choking hazards for young children
- Don’t give toys with small parts or accessories to children under 3 years old. These include:
- building sets for older children
- loose puzzle pieces
- buttons, beads, marbles, pellets, magnets
- decorations like eyes or noses that can be pulled off
- wheels and tires from small toy cars, trucks and other vehicles
- If the toy itself or its removable parts or accessories can fit inside a toilet paper roll, they are too small for safe play for children under 3 years old.
Check how well the toy is made
- Toys should be well-built and feel sturdy.
- There should be no sharp edges or points.
- All parts should be firmly attached.
Check battery safety
- Look for toys with secure, child-resistant battery compartments that require a tool or multiple steps to open.
- Be especially careful with toys that use button batteries. These batteries are very dangerous if swallowed. Learn more about button battery safety.
Check for recalls
- Toys can be recalled for a variety of safety reasons, like small parts, accessible batteries and long cords.
- Search the recalls and safety alerts database to make sure the toy you want to buy hasn’t been recalled.
Banned toys
Some toys are banned in Canada because they are not safe for children. Even so, you may still come across unsafe toys, including when shopping online or buying second-hand. Here are some examples of toys that are not allowed in Canada:
- yo-yo balls with cords longer than 50 centimeters
- balloon-blowing kits
- lawn darts with elongated tips
- jequirity beans
Find more information on toys and other children’s products that are banned in Canada.
In Canada, regulations limit certain substances in toys to reduce potential health risks during play.
For example, soft vinyl toys and childcare articles sold in Canada must meet strict limits for certain phthalates. These restrictions help reduce children’s exposure to harmful chemicals. Learn more about phthalates.
Be extra careful when buying toys online
It can be harder to judge safety when you can’t examine an item. When shopping online:
- Read the full product description.
- Look for an age recommendation, safety warnings, and details about materials, batteries and magnets.
- Check product photos carefully.
- Zoom in and look for small parts, long cords, sharp points or edges and secure battery compartments.
- Buy from reputable sellers and brands.
- Be cautious of third-party sellers with low prices and limited product information. Their toys may not meet Canadian safety requirements.
- Learn about online marketplaces, third party sellers and the safety pledge to protect consumers shopping from online marketplaces.
Before play
Remove and discard all packaging
- Throw away plastic bags, twist ties and other packaging right away. These can cause choking, suffocation or strangulation.
If the toy has a noticeable odour when you remove it from the packaging, place it in a well-ventilated area and allow it to air out for a few days before use. This can help reduce exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Learn more about volatile organic compounds.
Assemble toys carefully
- Follow all instructions step by step.
- Make sure all screws and fasteners are tight.
Inspect the toy
Before giving the toy to a child, check for:
- loose or missing parts
- sharp edges or points
- long cords or strings
- exposed wires
- parts that can break easily
- peeling paint or stickers
Check noise levels
- If the toy makes noise, test how loud it is.
- If it sounds uncomfortable to you, it may be too loud for your child.
During play
Supervise young children
- Watch children closely while they play.
- Make sure toys are used the way they are meant to be used.
Watch for damage
- Stop using toys that are cracked, broken, overheating or falling apart.
Keep all toys away from heat
- Keep toys, especially soft and plush toys, away from stoves, heaters and fireplaces.
Protect your child’s hearing
- Limit playtime with noisy toys.
- Keep toys that make sounds away from children’s ears.
Store toys safely
- Store toys at floor level so that a child can’t pull toys down from above their head and injure themself.
- Use open storage containers without sharp corners like baskets or canvas bins.
- Avoid toy boxes with heavy lids and remove lids whenever possible.
- Heavier lids can fall on a child’s head or neck causing injury or even death.
Important
Never let children play with airtight bins, trunks or boxes. A child can suffocate if they climb or fall inside.
Transcript
Ashley Artelle:
“Hi, I'm Ashley, I'm a toy product safety officer with Health Canada.”
Text on-screen: Any advice for consumers? Age appropriate toys
When shopping for toys, it's important for age appropriate toys. So, not only for the child you're purchasing for, but also for other children that may be in the home.
Text on-screen: Intended use of toys
“Another thing to think about is the intended use of the toy. So, just to make sure that your child is using the toy for what it is meant to be used for.
Text on-screen: What to do when opening a toy? Read warnings, instruction manual
“When opening a toy, it's important to first read the warning on the outer packaging as well as the instruction manual in full, and perhaps hang on to that in case you need it for future use.”
Text on-screen: Harmful packaging
“The other thing to be aware of is any piece of the packaging that could be harmful. So, this might include a small part that breaks off or the plastic film bag.”
Text on-screen: Check for defects
“It's also important when opening a new toy to inspect the toy prior to use, just to make sure there's no defects in the product.”
Text on-screen: What are some emerging risks? Magnets
“One category that could be risky is magnets. So, what we're looking at is strong, powerful magnets. So, not just ones that are present in toys.”
Text on-screen: Magnets cause damage when swallowed
“The issue with magnets is if you swallow more than one, they can cause damage and rip through your GI tract.”
Text on-screen: Water beads can expand causing blockages
“Another product we're looking at is water beads. So when swallowed, they can expand, causing blockages.”
Text on-screen: How does Health Canada regulate toys?
“Health Canada is a post-market regulatory program. Which means we don't test everything that hits the market.”
Text on-screen: Test based on: incident reports, annual projects, product categories
“We test products based on incident reports, annual projects, as well as product categories.
Text on-screen: How does Health Canada test toys? Proactive approach
“Health Canada tests a lot of different things on toys, but it's based on a proactive approach. We do annual projects based on different categories. So, currently we're looking at plush toys.”
Text on-screen: How are plush toys tested?
“When testing for plush toys, what we're looking at is any hard eye or hard nose. So, the issue with these is they could come off posing a choking hazard.”
Text on-screen: Test parts for hazards
“So, how we would test for that is we would yank on the eye and yank on the nose with a certain amount of force just to see if it comes loose, causing a hazard.”
Text on-screen: How to report a problem to Health Canada? Fill out an incident report
“If you notice any issues with your toys, you can always fill out an incident report online. You can reach us by email or by phone. And it's always a good idea to let the company know.”
Text on-screen: Canada.ca
“To learn more about toy safety, check out Canada.ca or click the link below to listen to our full episode.”
Stay Informed
For further information:
- Visit the resources below.
- Check for product recalls. If you have questions, contact the manufacturer.
- Subscribe to our electronic newsletter to receive the latest news and information about product advisories, warnings, safety tips, notice of webinars or consultations.
- Contact Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Program. Please use our General Enquiries Form, or call us at 1-866-662-0666 (toll-free within Canada and the United States).
You can also report an incident involving a toy or other consumer products. Reporting injuries, near misses and safety concerns is easy and could save lives.