![]() When contacted for this story, all three retailers said they took safety seriously and that all products they sell conform to federal standards. Some toys had vague age recommendations in their online listings, some had information that directly contradicted the age guidance on the packaging. Recently, Consumer Reports found a variety of magnet-based toys with confusing guidance on age appropriateness on the sites of several major retailers, including Amazon, Target, and Walmart. And it is often difficult for parents to know which products may be okay for their kids. ![]() Federal rules also define any small parts that can fit inside a 1.0- to 2.25-inch long, 1.25-inch-diameter tube as a choking hazard for children under 3.Įven with these standards, CR experts believe high-powered magnets meeting current legal requirements may pose a risk to children. These magnets cannot legally be in toys intended primarily for children under 14. Separate from the 2014 CPSC rule, previously established federal toy safety standards define "hazardous magnets" as those products that either are or include small parts with a force of attraction greater than 50 kG² mm² that are accessible to kids. But a subsequent 2016 court decision overturned this rule, and cleared the way for a flood of high-powered magnet-based desk toys and building kits available this holiday season, often sold online. In 2014, the Consumer Product Safety Commission approved a national safety standard for high-powered magnet sets requiring that individual magnets sold in these sets either be too large to be considered a small part or have a magnetic force below a defined threshold. These products have a tumultuous regulatory history. An estimated 1,900 of the 2,900 victims were ages 4 through 12. These magnets are known for their super strength, and can cause serious gastrointestinal injuries when swallowed by young kids.Īccording to a government review of injury data from 2009 through 2013, an estimated 2,900 ingestions of magnets from magnet sets were treated in U.S. In the past few years, regulators and safety advocates have expressed serious concerns about products containing small "rare earth" magnets. ![]() If you’re looking for other great toys that will spark your little’s imagination, check out these science toys, robotics kits, and other gifts for curious kids.How can parents know if a magnetic toy is safe to give to their child? These 13 toys are the very best ones that made the cut. I made sure to account for whether they were paid reviews-which have greater potential for bias-or independent ones.įinally, I sought out various types of magnetic toys for different age groups and made sure to include ones that would work for a variety of budgets. I made sure to keep safety in mind, and only included two products with rare-earth magnets (these are intended for older children, and should always be used under supervision).Īmazon’s list of best-selling magnetic toys and online customer reviews also informed my research. To recommend the best magnetic toys, I thought about the ones my own son and his friends have enjoyed, giving special consideration to those that have withstood the test of time. And of course, keep your budget in mind as there are great magnetic toys at all price points, but some building kits skew expensive. Once you’ve considered safety concerns, next think about your child’s interests, ability level, and dexterity. Some teens and adults should be able to use such toys, but always proceed with caution. ![]() Companies typically advertise the use of this type of magnet on a toy’s packaging or product info. The AAP also warns against the purchase of toys with high-powered or “rare-earth” magnets, which are among the strongest (and thus most dangerous) types. The Consumer Product Safety Commission also has a list of magnetic toy companies that have violated mandatory safety standards, which is useful for referring to prior to making a purchase. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends keeping any small or loose magnets away from young children and supervising young children around magnets, as well as checking magnetic toys for cracks in which the internal magnets could come loose. When it comes to magnetic toys, safety is paramount.
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