© iStockphoto.com / Anne Clark-
Being picked on by your brother or sister may seem like a normal part of growing up, but for some kids the bullying may be a source of depression and anxiety, a new study suggests.More >> Being picked on by your brother or sister may seem like a normal part of growing up, but for some kids the bullying may be a source of depression and anxiety, a new study suggests.More >> In a new finding sure to be shared with some skeptical parents, it seems that the brains of video game enthusiasts make better and faster use of visual input.More >> In a new finding sure to be shared with some skeptical parents, it seems that the brains of video game enthusiasts make better and faster use of visual input.More >> U.S. veterans with Gulf War illness complain of different types of symptoms, and researchers now think they know why: There may be two distinct forms of the illness.More >> U.S. veterans with Gulf War illness complain of different types of symptoms, and researchers now think they know why: There may be two distinct forms of the illness, depending on which areas of the brain have atrophied.More >> Sneezing, watery eyes, scratchy throat? What you think is a summer cold may actually be allergies, an expert says.More >> Sneezing, watery eyes, scratchy throat? What you think is a summer cold may actually be allergies, an expert says.More >> Fewer than 25 percent of new doctors in the United States go into primary care, and only about 5 percent open offices in rural areas, according to a new study.More >> Fewer than 25 percent of new doctors in the United States go into primary care, and only about 5 percent open offices in rural areas, according to a new study.More >>
-
Being picked on by your brother or sister may seem like a normal part of growing up, but for some kids the bullying may be a source of depression and anxiety, a new study suggests.More >> Being picked on by your brother or sister may seem like a normal part of growing up, but for some kids the bullying may be a source of depression and anxiety, a new study suggests.More >> For dads aiming at marital bliss, a new study suggests just two factors are especially important: being engaged with the kids, for sure -- but also doing a fair share of the household chores.More >> For dads aiming at marital bliss, a new study suggests just two factors are especially important: being engaged with the kids, for sure -- but also doing a fair share of the household chores.More >> The types of TV shows that families watch influences the amount of junk food that preschool children eat, a new study suggests.More >> The types of TV shows that families watch influences the amount of junk food that preschool children eat, a new study suggests.More >> The more tobacco advertising teenagers see, the more likely they are to start smoking, according to a new study.More >> The more tobacco advertising teenagers see, the more likely they are to start smoking, according to a new study.More >> Breast-feeding is good for a baby's brain, a new study says.More >> Breast-feeding is good for a baby's brain, a new study says.More >>
FRIDAY, Nov. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Toy shopping season is here and experts urge parents and others to make sure any gifts they buy for children are safe and age-appropriate.
Here are some gift-giving tips from doctors at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the American Academy of Pediatrics:
- Read all warning labels carefully and consider a child's age, interests and skill levels when buying toys.
- Choose toys with sturdy construction and avoid those with sharp edges and points.
- Choking is one of the leading causes of toy-related deaths, and most of these choking deaths are due to tiny balls, latex balloons and small magnets. Any toy that will be accessible by children under age 3 should not have any parts that are smaller than 1 inch in diameter and 2 inches long, because these can lodge in a child's mouth or throat.
- Avoid toy jewelry that may contain lead or cadmium, both of which can be harmful to children.
- Don't give toys that must be plugged into an electrical outlet to children younger than 10. Give them battery-operated toys instead. Remember, though, that button batteries found in toys can become lodged in the throat and cause serious injury or death.
- Don't buy pull toys with strings longer than 12 inches. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.
- Store toys in designated areas, such as on a shelf or in a toy chest, and keep older children's toys away from younger children.
- If people offer you used toys that don't have warning labels, inspect them carefully and use your best judgment about whether to accept them.
- Some toys contain powerful magnets. If a child swallows more than one of these magnets, they can attract to one another and result in serious injury or death. If your child ingests one more magnets, seek immediate medical attention.
More information
The Nemours Foundation has more about choosing safe toys.
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and KHNL, a Raycom Media Station. 
