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About toys that children push and pull
Push and pull toys are designed for children to move or walk along with as they explore their surroundings.
Toys include:
- toys on wheels like trains and cars
- toys on wheels that pull with a cord or string
- toys with a handle to push like activity walkers, trolleys and strollers.
Risks and injuries from the product
Children using push and pull toys can suffer:
- strangulation if they become tangled in long cords or strings
- cuts or stabbing wounds caused by sharp edges or exposed nails on the handles
- cuts from thin strings or cords that can cut through the skin
- falling while they are walking with push toys.
Things to look for when buying the product
Some injuries have happened to children playing with push and pull toys.
For this reason, there’s a mandatory standard for toys made for children up to and including 36 months of age that suppliers and retailers must comply with.
Design and construction
- Check the age grading label, which states the suitability of the toy for the child’s age.
- There are no long or thin cords or strings, sharp edges or exposed nails.
- There are no parts like balls or wheels that can come off easily as these could be a choking risk.
- Be certain that handles on push along toys are solid, do not come off easily and have no sharp edges.
- Removal or loss of a handle will not reveal a sharp point or edge. Make sure the cover is not small enough to choke on.
- Crossbars on handles are firmly attached to the bar leading from the toy. Nails shouldn’t be used to attach them, as exposed nails can form a sharp cutting edge.
- Axles are properly attached to the toy. Wheels are firmly attached to the axles. Removing a wheel or an axle should not produce a dangerous sharp point that can pierce the skin.
How to use the product safely
To keep your children safe, make sure:
- to follow the product assembly instructions
- to follow product guidelines for your baby’s age, size and development
- you check the toys regularly for any damage or wear like loose parts or broken pieces
- you always supervise children if they aren’t yet steady on their feet when using a push toy
- the pull cord or string is shorter than 22 cm for children 1.5 years old or under. Cords or strings longer than this can form a loop and become a strangulation risk.
- cords or strings longer than 22 cm don’t have beads or other attachments that could tangle to form a loop or noose for children aged 1.5 to 3 years old
- any cord or string attached to a toy is at least 1.5 mm thick to avoid cuts to children.