Toys are supposed to be fun, but sometimes they can be dangerous. In 2004, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an estimated 210,300 toy-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. Of those, 35 percent (72,800) involved kids under 5. It is important to keep these toy safety tips in mind:

• Check recall lists often
• Is the toy suited for your child's developmental level?
• Until your child turns 3 toys should be bigger than the child's mouth
• Toys should be light enough so that if the toy falls over on your child it can't hurt them
• Toys should be well put together
• Is your child physically ready for this toy?
• Toys should be in good condition
• Toys should not have a string or cord longer than 12 inches to avoid strangulation
• Avoid toys with small magnets. If the magnet falls out of a toy children can swallow them. 2 magnets in a child's digestive tract can attract each other can cause twisting and binding among other unpleasant problems.