Holiday Gift Giving: Avoid Loud Toys and Choking Hazards

Before placing gifts under the tree or buying for your grandchildren, make sure they are safe. Some toys contain lead and other toxins, while others pose choking hazards, or may cause hearing issues. Cuyuna Regional Medical Center Audiologist Kristin Schmidt, MA, FAAA, advises checking toy noise levels before buying them. “Young children’s auditory systems are still developing, so they are more vulnerable to inner ear damage from loud sounds.” She also recommends considering the proximity of the sound to a child’s ear. A 1-year-old’s arm length, for instance, is shorter than that of a 6-year-old.

“There are apps that measure noise levels,” says Schmidt. “Measure the toy’s sound from the distance your child will be hearing it. If the toy exceeds 70 dB, choose something else.” A quick search for decibel levels of common items like lawn mowers or fire alarms can help put noise levels into perspective: for instance, a riding lawn mower produces around 90 dBA, while a beeping smoke alarm reaches about 95 dBA. If you’ve already bought a loud toy or it’s on your child’s wish list, Schmidt offers some solutions. “When purchasing noisy toys, look for ones with volume control or an on/off button. If you already own toys that exceed safe noise limits you can put duct tape over the speaker, remove the batteries, or throw it away.”

If your child uses an iPad or headphones, HealthyChildren.org suggests precautions to protect their hearing. Encourage kids to keep the volume at 50 percent or lower and consider using noise-cancelling headphones instead of earbuds.

Noise isn’t the only concern during holiday gift-giving. Cuyuna Regional Medical Center Pediatrician Wendi Johnson, MD, FAAP, recommends a simple way to check for choking hazards: “Years ago, I learned about the toilet paper tube test. It’s an affordable way to determine if toys are a choking risk for babies or toddlers. If a toy can pass through the tube, it poses a choking hazard for children under three.” HealthyChildren.org also recommends keeping the following household items away from infants and young children: balloons, coins, marbles, small balls, pen or marker caps, syringes, and small or button batteries.

“Toys with magnets should have magnets that are securely fixed, like magna tiles,” says Johnson. “If a child ingests two magnets, they can travel through the intestines at different rates, potentially attracting each other across intestinal walls. This can cause tissue damage and perforation.”

So how can you ensure you’re buying gifts that won’t land you in the emergency room or doctor’s office? Healthychildren.org suggests the following:

1. Read the label. Warning labels give important information about how to use a toy and what ages the toy is safe for. Be sure to show your child how to use the toy correctly.
2. Avoid toys that shoot objects into the air. They can cause serious eye injuries or choking.
3. Buy sturdy plastic toys. Toys made from thin plastic may break easily into sharp pieces.
4. Avoid toys with toxic materials that could cause poisoning. Make sure the label says “nontoxic”.
5. Avoid hobby kits and chemistry sets for children younger than 12. They can cause fires or explosions and may contain dangerous chemicals.

If you think your child may have hearing loss or you have other auditory concerns schedule an evaluation with our audiologist at 218-546-7462.