(BPT) - As you shop for the little ones in your life, it's important to keep safety top of mind. While toys sold by responsible brands and retailers must comply with over 100 rigorous U.S. federal safety standards and tests before reaching consumers, many knockoff toys sold by online marketplaces and third-party sellers may not comply with these standards, making their toys potentially unsafe. In fact, according to a recent survey of 1,000 U.S. parents commissioned by The Toy Association™, a whopping 80% of parents say it's getting harder to spot counterfeit toys - up from 75% in 2024.
To help all kids stay safe, The Toy Association helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard over 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, government officials, consumers and the industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.
"The holidays are all about building childhood memories, having fun as a family, and the excitement of new toys," said Joan Lawrence, The Toy Association's "Toy Safety Mom" and senior vice president of standards and regulatory affairs. "That's why it's so important for gift-givers to know how to spot counterfeit toys lurking online."
The experts at The Toy Association offer these tips to help families ensure they're selecting safe, authentic, age-appropriate toys this holiday season and beyond.
Stick to the "Three R's":
These easy-to-remember tips can help guide your shopping choices.
- Reputation: Is the toy from a well-known seller or brand you're familiar with? If so, you can feel confident clicking "add to cart."
- Research: If you're not familiar with the seller, do your research. A responsible, legitimate company will have an official website.
- Reviews: If a toy has negative reviews or very few reviews, it could be fake. Also: Watch out for typos, spelling mistakes and poorly photoshopped photos - these are all red flags!
Learn more about how to spot counterfeits by reading this Toy Shopping Checklist for Families.
Check age labels
In addition to the Three R's, pay attention to the age recommendations on toy packaging, which are not a suggestion - and are not about how smart your child is, either. Age labels offer crucial safety guidance from child development experts about what's safe and appropriate for children at each age.
It's especially crucial to follow 3+ age labels when you have a toddler or infant in your household, as these toys may contain small parts that are a choking hazard for children under age 3. Children younger than 3 years old are also the most likely to put objects in their mouths, making it vital to check and follow these age recommendations.
Avoid non-toy gifts
When children are gifted non-toy products like desk accessories, home decorations, watches, and remote controls not meant for kids, they may contain small batteries, non-toy water beads, and/or high-powered magnets that can be accessed by children and are very dangerous if accidentally swallowed. Similarly, latex balloons are not toys and can pose a choking risk to children when uninflated or broken into pieces.
To stay safe, it's recommended to gift only toys intended for children, since there are strict federal standards in place to make sure those products are safe.
"Throughout the busy holiday season and also for birthdays and other occasions year-round, keep all these tips in mind to ensure you're selecting safe, age-appropriate toys for the children in your life," added Lawrence. "Following this guidance will help give you peace of mind."
To learn more about toy safety, visit PlaySafe.org.