22 November 2023 , 10:36
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Christmas is fast approaching, which means it's time to start buying gifts, and if you have children to buy for, you'll be looking at toys. Child safety needs to be a priority when deciding which toys to get, as cheap toys come with unforeseen choking hazards. So here are a few top tips on ones to avoid buying your little one with safety in mind.
A nanny took to TikTok to warn parents and family members about the dangers of some readily available toys on the market in the run-up to Christmas. "These are the toys I would never have in my house, to help you make cautious choices just before Christmas," The nanny known online as 'The Enchanted Nanny' said in her TikTok video. “The first one is aqua beads - they are unnecessary.”
“If you want something that will give you the exact same sensory experience, please use tapioca. Aqua beads are literally made to expand when they hit water. If your child accidentally eats them, they form a massive obstruction that will just keep going and they’re also toxic.
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“Avoid them like the plague - use tapioca instead.” Moving on to the second hazardous toy to avoid, the nanny explained why she would avoid any toy that contains button batteries. “If you’ve ever seen those videos where someone has put a button battery on a piece of bacon - you will understand why we do not have them in our house.
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“They look like a shiny sweet and if they come loose, which they often do, because they tend to be in quite cheap toys, they form a massive choking hazard, but worse than that, the damage that they do when they’re swallowed is untold and can be fatal.” She said.
In the next tip, the nanny explained why you’d never find marbles in her home, “Now, some of the games they have brought out that contain marbles are so cool, and sometimes they’re even in Christmas crackers, but again, if you’ve got little ones under five, they are the perfect choking hazard.
“They don’t break down and they can get stuck very easily. Just avoid them until your little ones are older. And if you’ve got pets, another reason just to not have them in the house,” she said. Finally, and perhaps unexpectedly, the parenting expert explained why she does not recommend at-home science kits. “These are actually so dangerous,” she said. Adding, “ The stuff that you can end up making with these kits, I can’t even describe. It’s mad that they are for sale.”
“There’s lots of great at home science books that you can get, with lots of different safe experiments that don’t involve chemistry, so I would get those instead if you’ve got a little scientist at home.” The viral TikTok clip, clearly left many stunned, as it has amassed over 59,000 views and hundreds of comments.
One person said: “This is so helpful thank you.” Another added: “I’m with you on them all. I don’t even keep the balls in screwball scramble. I keep those in the locked meds cupboard.” However, someone else commented: ”Everything can be so dangerous, it’s about using your own common sense and adult supervision at the right times.” Whilst another social media user wrote: “Anything can be dangerous if not supervised appropriately.”