As a parent you want to provide your child fun activities that spur creativity and learning. While you’ll choose toys that match your child’s interests and developmental level, it’s also important to scrutinise possible risks from playthings.
Mandatory Labelling: Take Your Cue
Fortunately, consumers are protected by the Sales of Goods Act of 1979, which encourages manufacturers to perform due diligence that their product design and construction is safe. Additionally, manufacturers must adhere to environmental law, minimizing the harmful consequences of using their products.
Your first line of defense in choosing toys for your youngster is to check for the CE, or Conformité Européenne, marking on toys made in the European Economic Area. In using this symbol, the producer indicates they have met European standards of safety guidelines and that the toy qualifies for sale in the EU. An importer of goods is also obligated to ensure toy safety.
Consumers have recourse if harm has come from a seemingly safe product. Solicitors.Guru lists reputable firms that are knowledgeable about regulations and issues surrounding potentially dangerous toys.
An Ounce of Prevention
Children ages five and below are statistically the highest risk group for toy-related injury; naturally they require the closest supervision. Injuries to the face and head account for over half of toy-related injuries, with riding toys leading the list of offenders.
Choking hazards are commonplace; balloons are the most common culprit, although small loose parts are also of concern. Loose magnets can cause immediate and long-term problems; never let a child play unsupervised with powerful magnets. Even an older child can accidentally ingest magnets by creating false piercings in their nose or mouth.
Flammability and chemical content are more obscure, but a very real threat. Keep abreast of hazards by being aware of product recalls.
Follow-Up Documentation
After the obvious emergency care and doctor visit when a child has experienced injury, what should you do to receive compensation for medical care and other costs, both material and intangible?
Document everything possible with thorough photographs and compose a timeline and description of events while the memories are fresh. Gather all medical records. Package the offending item to preserve its condition at the time of the accident.
Collect receipts for all costs incurred from the injury; this includes medical costs such as hospital, transportation, tests, and other charges related to treatment. Out-of-pocket expenses that occur due to the injury would be included in a claim, as would be any personal property damage.
It is best to consult a specialist as soon as possible to streamline the process of filing a claim. Contact a consumer law solicitor to make certain that your records are complete; in addition they can advise on intangible issues such as pain and suffering, or punitive damages for negligence.
The Law on Your Side
While you can’t protect your child from every mishap, you can mitigate the potential for serious and lasting harm. And should the unthinkable happen, consider your legal remedies for an unnecessary injury. Such action gives you the best chances of full recovery, plus protects others from a similar unfortunate injury.
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
Really informative post, thanks for sharing 🙂
Very important info, thank you for writing this. Also important to avoid items made outside of the country, like one’s from China, which have been shown to contain lead.