Safe Toys for Kids

It's always pretty amazing to discover that many toys sold in stores for children are pretty unsafe. Granted, almost anything could cause some harm in theory, but some toys are definately unacceptably dangerous.

Baby Walkers

Baby walkers are popular for any number of reasons. They give the baby a surface to lay toys on, the babies often laugh when they're in them, and some parents feel the walkers teach the baby to walk earlier.

Unfortunately the upright walkers are horrendously dangerous. Specifically they tumble down stairs, people knock them over by accident, or they flip over. In all those cases the baby's head is exposed and a nasty head injury can occur. Baby walkers are so dangerous the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has taken a strong stand against them. Personally, I've seen enough children taken to the ER with injuries from walkers to make me very leery of them.

Parents can buy saucers or low playpens for their children instead of the walkers. These are much safer and the children still have fun.

Trampolines

Trampolines are super fun, but unfortunately they're linked to hundreds of broken bones and head injuries. Even when there are "spotters," people have found that when someone lands wrong, or falls off the surface, little can be done to protect them. So whether or not the kids are supervised, the trampoline has a high risk of leading to broken limbs or even a broken neck. The AAP has taken a strong stand on this one too. I've seen one patient with a two foot metal rod in his leg from a trampoline accident, and one is more than enough!

Bike Helmets

Bicycles are terrific, in terms of being good for exercise and certainly just plain fun. I recommend wearing a bike helmet with them, though. While bike helmets looks pretty goofy, they prevent injuries to the head and the brain. While we can fix broken bones and scratches, injuries to the brain can have long lasting effects and are not so easily mended!

Wearing a helmet isn't intuitive, it can be hard to remember, and may appear "uncool." The best way to get your kids to wear one is to start them early- get them a helmet for their tricycle or toy bike. That way they're used to the idea. For older kids you may have to just require it if they're going to ride.

Of course, the folks at the AAP have a sheet of tips in buying a helmet, as well as some general bike safety tips.