The holidays are just around the corner! It’s an exciting time filled with food, family, and gifts! If you have children they are surely excited to see what gifts Santa gives them this year! Don’t let a toy injury ruin your family’s Christmas. Read on to learn about toy safety and how to keep your children’s peepers safe over the holidays.
There is such a wide variety of toys these days, it can be hard to know what is safe and appropriate for your child, especially from ones that could risk their vision! However being aware of what to look out for when purchasing toys can really reduce the risk of a potential eye injury.
Eye Safety Tips For Children’s Toys
- Always purchase toys that are only age appropriate. In addition to the age recommendation, it is important to assess if your child is mature and ready for a particular toy.
- Toys that are given by a family or friend should be checked to see if they are age appropriate for your child. If you are gifting a toy to a family member or a friend, enclose a gift receipt, so if a parent determines that a toy is not safe they can simply return it for an appropriate one.
- Toys with sharp edges, glass, or breakable parts can be dangerous to your child’s eyes.
- Be aware of toys which recommend adult supervision.
- Bathtub toys should not be sharp. Should you child slip or fall while in a bathtub an injury to the eye could result.
- Ensure toys with handles like swords or play broom sets have rounded edges.
- Toys which include elastic parts or strings can be harmful to your child’s eyes if they break or spring back into the eye.
- Be aware of younger siblings getting a hold of toys that are meant for their older sibling(s).
- Toys which shoot or can be used as weapons could poke your child’s eye.
For more information about what to look out for before, after, and general safety guidelines, check out The Children’s Health & Safety Association page. Additionally, All About Vision has a great list of toy recommendations by age for vision development.
Eye Emergency
If you think your child has sustained an eye injury to his or her eye(s) it is important to seek medical help as soon as possible. Waiting can hinder your child’s vision and ocular health. Your first stop for an eye emergency should be your family eye doctor. Ensure to let the front desk know that you have an eye emergency, so you can be prioritized appropriately. However, if your local optometrist’s office is not open, visit your nearest hospital.
Children, especially those who are young, are sometimes unable to communicate that something is wrong. Dr. Sharma always recommends erring on the side of caution when it comes to your eye health.
Happy Holidays…
We would like to wish you and your family happy holidays and a happy new year. Thanks for choosing Inner Harbour Optometry as your family eye care center. We look forward to serving you in 2018!
Are you in need of an eye exam? Give us a call or easily book online with Dr. Sharma.
We are Victoria, B.C.’s trusted eye care professionals.