A few simple Top Tips will keep baby safe and provide confidence to Mum Dad that baby's toys are safe.

These days manufacturers must work to very rigorous requirements and regulations to ensure that children's toys are safe. Gone are the days of toxic paint and other materials which can cause harm.

Toys are also graded by age with small parts being excluded from baby products.

There are, however, still dangers but these can be easily managed by parents if they are aware of the risks:

Always take great care with heirloom toys which could have toxic paint or metal pins. Eyes and other parts may be removable. It is best to keep such toys out of sight and unused.

Check each toy for damage, sharp edges and any loose parts. Try the good tug test to verify that all parts are secure.

Never give a child under 4 years old any item which could cause choking. As a guide, consider any object which could fit into a 35mm film container as a potential choking hazard. Marbles, magnets, lipstick tops, pen tops are all attractive to children but can be deadly.

Ensure that toys, e.g. balls, are not left around so as to present a tripping hazard for parents. To this end, try to encourage baby to play with one toy at a time. Withdrawing and re-introducing toys can be fun for baby.

These basic tips will provide a safer environment for baby but remember that close supervision is always needed as, for instance, children can insert objects into their ears and up their noses and pencils can be dangerous if put into mouth and the child trips.

Hello Baby is a family run online nursery shop based in Bethnal Green, East London, UK. We sell a wide range of baby toys including JellyKitten, Brio, Heimess, infantino, PlanToys, Kid Kraft and Lamaze

When you add a baby into your family, the financial expenses go up considerably. From diapers to blankets and other essentials your baby needs, you might not have that much of a budget to go out and buy every toy known to man. As a mother of twins, I was on a strict budget and knew

certain items that I had to have as well as toys that I absolutely had to have two of.

The number one toy my boys love is a Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo. The music is activated when the baby moves in song mode, otherwise it will make random animal noises if set in the second sound mode. The music lasts for about four minutes so until your baby grasps the concept to jump around for the sensors to realize there is movement, be prepared to push it down to continue the music. This toy you can safely put your baby into once he has control over his head, or right before three months of age. Now that they're five months, they're playing with all other attachments on the jumperoo- it's amazing how far they've come in two months! I thought I could get away with having one, but after lifting one out to put the other in, the crying begins!

The second life saver is the Evenflo Exersaucer. Again you can put your baby in as early as three months, but they might not be developed enough to be able to appreciate it until closer to four months of age. I have two of these so each one can have his own to play in. What is great about this toy is that it is a more stable surface for your baby to have his legs develop and get that much closer to walking (but without the hazards of the standard walker) as well as gives you some hands to hold onto your baby while you get some chores around the house done. Exersaucers range from having little toys and mirrors to having sound-activated toys-with having one of each, I recommend having one where sounds come out of. It furthers your baby's development and is more entertaining.

Sized perfectly for preschool-aged "drivers", this bright red car is hard to miss! We love the clean, modern design, quality construction, and rubber-like tires. Note that the doors, hood and trunk on this car do not open. The only pieces that move are the wheels, steering wheel and convertible top.
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