Your baby’s plush bear, rabbit, and kangaroo sure are cute and cuddly. But are they safe? Here’s a quick checklist of what to look for when shopping for stuffed toys online.
Eyeball those eyes, and double-check that nose. Steer clear of features made of buttons, beads, or other small objects that could fall or be chewed off. The same goes for clothing, accessories, and any other decoration. The bottom line – any items that are glued or sewn on have a good chance of ending up in a baby’s mouth.
Be wary of wires. Check ears, paws, tails and everywhere else to ensure the toy is wire-free. Even if the wire is covered with fur, there’s a chance it could poke through and injure your little one.
Steer clear of string. Anything that’s stringy, for example, hair, ribbons, or leashes longer than six inches should be avoided or removed. Check the construction. Seams should be super-sturdy to keep the stuffing where it belongs.
Make sure it’s washable. Furry friends can get pretty gross pretty quickly (we’re talking grime and germs galore). Your best bet is to choose plush toy animals you can wash and dry easily. What about the lovable lion your little one won’t part with, even for a minute? Consider buying two of that particular toy to avoid a baby meltdown when it’s laundry day.
Wage war on dust mites. Besides harboring germs, stuffed toy animals collect dust mites, which can seriously aggravate allergies and asthma. One way to minimize mites is to launder and dry the toy, and then put it in a plastic bag in the freezer overnight. Keep the crib toy-free. That pile of critters may look cute, but it poses a suffocation hazard to your baby. So leave the animals out, please.