We often see the warning on toys or packaging: "Warning! Contains small parts, not suitable for children aged 3 and under." We must not underestimate these small parts. Although they are small in size, they pose significant dangers and can easily cause suffocation and death in children. According to statistics from Beijing Children's Hospital, there have been over 500 cases of emergency treatment due to small parts entering the esophagus in the past five years, many of which involved small parts from children's toys.
According to data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2004, more than 95% of recalled toys posed small part hazards, resulting in 133 injuries.
In the "Toy Safety Specifications," requirements for small parts are clearly divided into three different age groups based on age limits:
- For children under 3 years old, toys are not allowed to contain small parts.
- For children under 6 years old, toys may contain small parts but must have a warning label.
- For children over 6 years old, toys can contain small parts without requiring warning instructions.
Any detachable or脱落 parts from toys after "reasonable abuse" that can fit into a small parts tester are considered small parts. The dimensions of the small parts tester are determined by mimicking the size of a child's esophagus. In the "Toy Safety Specifications," the requirements for small parts are as follows: Toys and their detachable parts intended for use by children 36 months and younger should not completely fit into the small parts tester; toys and detachable parts intended for use by children aged 37–72 months that can fit into the small parts tester must have warning instructions.
In childcare institutions and family play settings, self-made toys like buttoning clothes, feeding small animals, etc., are very common, especially for children aged 0–3 years. Such toys frequently include small parts like buttons, red beans, green beans, and small beads, which require extra caution.
1. If a toy or its accompanying small objects can entirely fit into the inner core of a toilet paper roll, such toys should be banned.
2. Loose parts on toys, unsecured eyes and noses on plush toys, detached buttons, wheels on cars, etc., all pose potential choking hazards.
Non-detachable small parts on toys, such as buttons on dolls, eyeballs on animals, and fixed accessories on toy cars, should be securely fastened. Try pulling them with your hand to check if they loosen, preventing children from removing and swallowing them.
Small detachable accessories on toys, such as items held or worn by toy dolls, should have a diameter greater than 31.75mm to prevent children from accidentally putting them in their mouths, causing suffocation or swallowing them unnecessarily.
3. Swallowing small pieces of magnets could lead to suffocation. If multiple magnets are swallowed, they may attract each other, potentially causing intestinal obstruction and endangering life.
4. Hair from dolls or plush toys falling off and being inhaled into the lungs could cause suffocation or breathing difficulties.
5. Balls for children under 3 years old should have a diameter of at least 5 centimeters.
6. Balloons and thin plastic bags are also one of the major "killers" leading to suffocation in children.
Children under 3 years old like to grab everything they can touch and then inspect it with their mouths. This is their way of exploring the world, but this habit also directly creates conditions for "suffocation." We need to be vigilant about the potential dangers these parts may bring when purchasing toys or making our own toys.