Researchers found that between 1990 to 2011, the number of hospital emergency room cases related to toys increased from 121,249 to 195,363.

Top culprits:

· scooters had injury rates of 40 percent

· Other common culprits included toy food and toy guns.

KEY TAKEAWAY

Parents need to be aware of the precautions that should be taken for certain toys to help prevent an injury.

· Children should be supervised at all times

· Keep floors free of toys and obstructions that can be tripped over

· Always use a securely fitted safety harness in a pram, pushchair or highchair

· Never leave babies unattended on raised surfaces

· Do not place baby bouncers on raised surfaces – they could fall off with the movement of the baby

· The use of baby-walkers and table-mounted high chairs is not recommended.

· Buy toys only from recognized outlets;

· Make sure the toy is suitable for the child, check the age range;

· Be particularly careful with toys for children under three;

· Be wary of young children playing with older children’s toys;

· Check for loose hair and small parts, sharp edges and points;

· Ensure that garden swings and slides are robust and are not a strangulation hazard;

· Check toys regularly for wear and repair or dispose of them where necessary;

· Follow the instructions and warnings provided with toys;

Children differ in their rate of development but the information below is a guide to development stages:

Age	Development	Advice
0-6 months	Wriggle and kick, grasp, suck, roll over.	Do not leave on a raised surface.
6mths-1 yr	Stand, sit, crawl, put things in mouth.	Keep small objects and dangerous substances out of reach
1-2 years	Move about, reach things high up, and find hidden objects, walk, and climb.	Never leave alone, place hot drinks out of reach, use a fireguard and stair gates
2-3 years	Be adventurous, climb higher, pull and twist things, watch and copy. Be a good role model and be watchful.	Place matches and lighters out of sight and reach.
3-4 years	Use grown-up things, be helpful, understand instructions, be adventurous, explore, walk downstairs alone.	Continue to be a good role model, keep being watchful but start safety training.
4-5 years	Play exciting games, can be independent, ride a bike, enjoy stories	They can actually plan to do things and carry it out. Rules are very important to them, as long as everybody keeps to the same ones. They enjoy learning. Continue safety training.
5-8 years	Will be subject to peer pressure and will still forget things.	Still need supervision, guidance and support.

SOURCE: The study was published in the journal, Clinical Pediatrics., http://www.rospa.com