Avoid dangerous gifts this Christmas
As we approach the festive season, many of us will be looking to start our Christmas shopping and searching for the perfect gift for our loved ones, particularly children.
To help you spot which gifts to avoid this Christmas, the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) have highlighted some of the big risks to your child's safety:
- Cheap copies of popular toys - Cheap copies may have parts that break easily, such as easy-access button batteries, high-strength magnets or harmful levels of chemicals. The danger isn't always obvious.
- Electric scooters, hoverboards and e-bikes - Lithium-ion batteries that power electric scooters, hoverboards and e-bikes can start explosive fires that spread quickly and are difficult to put out. Shop with reputable retailers and manufacturers, and avoid buying cheaper parts online.
- Easy-access button batteries -Button batteries can badly hurt or kill a small child if swallowed.These can be found in numerous items, such as cheap toys from unknown sellers online, light-up decorations, singing Santas and flashing wands as well as gifts for pets, older children and adults.
- Water beads -These can be really dangerous if swallowed. As they bathe in stomach fluids, they can expand to many times their original size, posing a serious risk of blockage in a child's bowel.
- Magnetic toys - High-strength magnets can rip through a child's gut if swallowed, causing very serious and even life-threatening injuries.
- Baby sleep products -Hug pillows can cause a baby to overheat or suffocate. Lullaby Trust recommend that pillows should not be used for babies until they are at least 12 months old. Likewise, many sleep bags sold have been recalled as they present a serious risk of suffocation, overheating and death.
- Slime -Some products available for sale online contain high doses of harmful chemicals and have been recalled because they contain excess amounts of boron. Exposure to this can cause irritation, diarrhoea, vomiting and cramps and may damage a child's reproductive system.
- Laser pointers -A powerful laser pointer shone into a child's eye can cause permanent sight loss. Many cheap laser pointers are unsafe and dangerous.
CAPT have also provided some top tips to consider when shopping from online marketplaces to stay safe this Christmas:
- Stick with brand names you know. If you've never heard of the seller or the brand and the price is really tempting, it could be dangerous. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Be really careful when buying for under 3s as they're most at risk from dangerous products.
- Watch out for cheap copies of popular toys. They may not be made to UK safety standards.
- Check if the product has been removed from sale. Visit gov.uk for a list of recalled products.
- If you buy something that looks unsafe, trust your instincts and send it back.
More information on keeping your child safe can be found on the CAPT website.
Help keep Sunderland safe
If you spot a shop selling fake or unsafe toys or products, please report it and let us know. Your report can help remove dangerous items from the market and protect others:
