Who doesn't love giving a plush stuffed animal to a young child? Kids' faces light up when they hug these critters. And with the holiday season on its way, these toys are probably on your list as a gift giving idea.
But as adults, we need to be mindful of safety issues involving stuffed animals, which can pose choking, laceration, suffocation and allergy hazards.
Here's a checklist of stuffed animal safety issues to watch out for, courtesy of "What To Expect.com":
- Steer clear of features made of buttons, beads, or other small objects that could fall (or be chewed) off and end up in a baby's mouth.
- Check ears, paws, tails to ensure the toy is wire-free. Wires that poke through can injure a young child.
- Avoid any toy that is stringy (longer than six inches)
- Check to make sure no stuffing is falling out
- Stuffed toys collect dust mites, which can seriously aggravate allergies and asthma. To minimize mites, launder and dry the toy, then put it in a plastic bag in the freezer overnight.
- Don't give stuffed animals to young babies in cribs – they pose a suffocation hazard.
About the Author
Tom D'Amore is the founder of D'Amore Law Group and a trial attorney with over 30 years of experience representing injured people and their families across the West Coast, securing more than $325 million in recoveries. He handles cases involving
car accidents,
trucking accidents,
construction injuries,
medical malpractice, and
sexual abuse. Licensed in Oregon, Washington, and California, Tom is the only NBTA board-certified truck accident attorney in Oregon. He is a national Board of Governors member, past Executive Committee member, and past Budget and Audit Chair of the American Association for Justice, as well as past President of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and an Eagle member of the Washington State Association for Justice.
