Most parents think their homes are the safest places for their children to play. However, this there may be hazards that many parents don’t even realize. Over 10,000 kids are admitted to hospitals daily due to injuries that occur at home in their play rooms when they are playing. The injuries mainly happen when the children are left unsupervised. On average, at least five kids die daily due to residential related injuries. Children spend plenty of time in playrooms. Below are some common playroom hazards that affect children and how to avoid them.

Playroom hazards

Stuffed toys

Parents enjoy buying stuffed toys because they are soft and cuddly. However, they can be dangerous. Kids like experimenting and understanding things. Thus, they will at one point pull off small pieces of the toy like eyes and buttons as they try to understand how the toy is made up. The sad news is that their adventure does not stop there. They will eat the small pieces and possibly choke as they try to swallow them. Moreover, stuffed toys harbor germs and bugs, so they should regularly be washed to kill mites and critters like lice.

Foam mats

If your baby uses a foam play mat, ensure that it is safe. Some foam play mats can contain formaldehyde among other toxins that present dangerous health risks to your child. If you are unsure of your mat’s safety, it is important to change it out with a non-toxic mat like the Baby Bello organic play mat or the Panda Mat.

Art and craft supplies

It is common to find arts and crafts supplies in kids’ playrooms. They are fantastic for teaching children how to paint, draw and write, however, they may not be safe, especially when ingested. Most crayons, glues, and paints marketed for use by children are nontoxic. Even non-toxic art and craft supplies cause serious side effects such nausea, diarrhea, and severe headaches. Keep such supplies out of reach until your children are old enough to use them properly or allow them to use the supplies under your supervision.

Toy bags and packaging

Kids’ play toys and gadgets come packaged in foam peanuts and plastic wraps/ bags. These packing materials present the risk of choking and suffocation when exposed to children who do not know how to use them. Therefore, ensure that you unpack all toy boxes in an area that your children cannot access, and dispose of the packing materials immediately.

Magnets

Many toys are stuffed with small magnets that can cause serious medical emergencies when swallowed accidentally. Since you cannot prevent your child from experimenting and eating everything around them, it is advisable to keep toys with small magnets out of reach until they are six years and above. Or when they are able to understand swallowing foreign objects can be harmful to their health.

Parents enjoy when their children are happy and enjoying their toys. Moreover, they love their children’s joy when they see new toys. However, there should be boundaries on the type of toys to give your children. It’s better to utilize a few safe toys than end up in the emergency room.