Proud as can be - the baby site

With so many scares recently about toy safety it got my mind thinking about what we should as parents, be checking for when buying a toy for our children.

It highlighted that there seems a common misconception amongst parents about the CE Mark. I always assumed that the CE mark was some indication that a toy was safe. It would appear this is not the case, the CE mark is purely an indication that the toy or product was made in conformity with the essential safety requirements of the directive. This is typical European Union legislation gobbeldygook in my opinion, are you any wiser, I am not.

From what I understand, it is not a sign of safety or quality. It is like a passport for the product indicating that the original importer or manufacturer complied with the CE legislation so they don't have to get it checked every time it crosses EU borders. Phew!

There is hope for parents however. It seems there are some consumer safety logos and pictograms you can watch out for, in addition to good old fashioned common sense.

So what should I look for?

The British Toy and Hobby Association have since 1988 had the Lion Mark. Consumers can be certain that a toy which bears the Lion Mark is safe and conforms with all relevant safety information.

European Toy Safety Standard EN71

EN71 is a Europe wide set of legislation covering the standards for all toys for children up to the age of 14 and within the legislation splits toy suitability into age specific ranges and in particular, warnings for toys that are deemed to be unsuitable for children under 36 months. The legislation is in 6 parts and covers things such as flammability, toxicity and safety marking.

Age warning pictograms

These were introduced in 1995. They indicate a warning - do not give the toy to children less than three years, nor allow them to play with it. It means that there may be small parts in the product which could for example be a choking hazard to children in the age indicated. Full details of the reasons for the age restriction must be given in the instructions included with the product e.g. "because of small parts". This symbol will gradually replace the current warning "not suitable for children under 3 years", which has often been confused with age advice - those discretionary guidelines used by the manufacturer to help the buyer match the product with a child's age, interest and ability. The choking hazard symbol does not apply to the over 3's.

Further information

• Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)
• British Toy and Hobby Association (administrators of the Lion Mark)