How to choose a safe toy: age labels, small parts and materials

A safe toy is one made for your child's age, with no small parts for children under three, no loose magnets or open battery covers, and materials that hold up to real play. The age label on the box is the most important safety information you have.

Most parents check whether a child will like a toy. Fewer check whether it is right for their age. This short guide covers what to look for before you buy and what to check at home.

Read the age label first

The age on the box is about safety, not intelligence. "3 years and up" usually means the toy contains small parts, which can choke a child under three.

If you have a baby and an older child at home, store the older child's toys where the baby cannot reach them.

The small parts rule

An easy test: if a piece fits inside a toilet roll tube, it is small enough to be swallowed. Doll shoes, hair clips, extra block pieces and battery caps all count.

For children under three, choose only large, soft toys with no detachable pieces.

Magnets

Good magnetic building blocks seal their magnets inside each piece. That is safe for children from three years. Loose magnets are dangerous: if a child swallows two, they can stick together inside the body.

Check magnetic pieces now and then. A cracked piece should be thrown away.

• Build World Magnetic Building Blocks

Batteries and charging

Toys with button batteries need a screwed battery cover. A rechargeable toy that charges with a cable avoids the problem completely.

Let an adult do the charging, and do not leave a toy charging overnight on a bed or sofa.

• Robot Dog D5

Materials and finish

Look for smooth edges, no sharp seams and paint that does not flake. Fabric and hair on dolls should be firmly attached. A toy that is still in good condition after a month of play is usually well made.

• Princess Dress-Up Doll Gift Set

A two minute check at home

Open the box together with your child. Count the small parts and decide where they will be kept.

Pull gently on any part that could come off, like doll hair, wheels or eyes.

Remove plastic bags and packaging straight away. They are a risk for young children too.

Keep the box for a few days. The age label and any instructions are printed on it.

Our approach at Kiddopea

Read the product details before you order: they list the age range and what is in the box. If something arrives damaged or is not what you expected, you can start a return from your account within 30 days.

Delivery and payment

We deliver across Bangladesh: 80 taka in Dhaka and 150 taka elsewhere, free on orders over 3,000 taka. You pay cash on delivery or by bKash, after you have seen the parcel.