Children under the age of 36 months are less able to cough up anything they swallow by accident and may choke.
To reduce the risk of children choking while playing with a toy, children’s toys must be of a specified size, and not contain small parts designed to be removed from the toy or small pieces that break off easily. In general the Product Safety Standard for Children's Toys applies to toys with characteristics that will appeal to a child up to 36 months of age.
What are the rules?
The rules apply to all toys manufactured, designed, labelled or marketed for use by children up to and including 36 months of age. The rules apply even if the toys are also manufactured, designed, labelled or marketed for use by children older than 36 months.
What toys are covered by the rules?
This is not a complete list, but these types of toys are listed in the regulations and are likely to be covered by the rules:
rattles, dummies, teethers, squeeze toys
toys that come attached to a crib, stroller, play-pen or baby carriage
push and pull toys, pounding toys, blocks and stacking toys, toys for use in baths, wading pools and sand
rocking, spring and stick horses or other figures
musical chime toys, jacks-in-the-box, stuffed, plush or flocked animals and other figures
games and puzzles
dolls
toy cars and trucks.
The regulations do not apply to these toys:
balloons
bicycles with a wheel base smaller than 640mm
books and other items made of paper
cassette tapes, compact discs, DVDs and records
dummies and pacifiers (other than toy dummies and toy pacifiers)
paints, paint brushes and other painting tools
flotation aid toys for use in water
marbles
modelling materials including clay, plasticine and playdough
playground equipment for parks, schools and domestic use, eg, swings, seesaws, slides, sand pits, sliding poles and ladders
toys made solely from porous material such as cheesecloth
writing materials including crayons, chalk, pencils and pens.
The regulations also do not apply to unassembled toys that when put together by an adult who follows the supplied written instructions will meet the requirements set out in the Standard.
