Toys by Age
Toy and teether guides by age built from AAP guidance, FDA warnings, CPSC toy rules (small parts, magnets, batteries) and CPSC recall records.
Explainers
Are amber teething necklaces safe? Safer teethers and what to skip (2026)
Short answer: no. The FDA warns against teething necklaces and bracelets after reports of strangulation and choking, including a death, and the AAP doesn’t recommend infants wear any jewelry. Use a firm (not liquid-filled) teething ring, a chilled washcloth or a clean finger instead, and skip benzocaine and lidocaine gels.
GuideToddler and kids’ bike helmets: labels, fit and recalls (2026)
Short answer: buy only a helmet labeled as meeting the CPSC bicycle helmet standard; for toddlers and preschoolers, the label should say “Age 1 and Older (Extended Head Coverage)”. It should sit level on the head covering the forehead, not rock or slide over the eyes, with a snug chin strap (AAP). Don’t buy or hand down used helmets, and replace any helmet after a crash. Since November 2025, CPSC has recalled more than a dozen helmets that failed the federal standard, many sold online.
GuideHow to choose safe toys by age (2026)
Short answer: follow the age label, keep every toy and part larger than your child’s mouth, avoid loose button batteries, strong magnets, bean-like fillings and loose strings, and take down hanging crib toys when your baby starts pushing up on hands and knees or turns 5 months, whichever comes first (AAP). The best toys are simple ones you play with together; “educational” screens aren’t better (AAP).
GuideChoking hazards for babies and toddlers: foods, small parts and balloons (2026)
Short answer: keep small, round, firm things away from under-4s. The AAP lists hot dogs, whole grapes, nuts, popcorn, hard candy, raw carrot sticks and chunks of meat or cheese as top food risks (cut round foods into tiny pieces), and balloons, coins, marbles, small balls, pen caps and button batteries as household ones. Balloons are a risk up to age 8. Take an infant CPR and first-aid class.
GuideAre water beads safe for kids? The 2026 federal rule and squishy-toy recalls
Short answer: no, not in a home with young children. CPSC urges parents to remove water beads from any environment with children, and the AAP says it is safest not to have them at home. Swallowed beads keep growing and can block the intestines, may not show on X-rays, and have killed at least one baby. A federal rule for water bead toys took effect March 12, 2026, but it doesn’t cover beads sold for vases or plants, or beads already in your home.
GuideAre teething gels and tablets safe? (2026)
Short answer: no. The FDA says topical teething medicines with benzocaine or lidocaine offer little to no benefit and carry serious risks: benzocaine can cause methemoglobinemia, a sometimes fatal drop in the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, and viscous lidocaine can cause seizures, heart problems and death. It also warns against homeopathic teething tablets. Rub gums with a clean finger, or offer a firm rubber teether that isn’t frozen solid.