Many people have made great money designing and selling children’s toys, gifts, and clothing. And, the one thing they all have had to consider is the unique dangers their creations can pose to the children they intend them for. Even harmless looking items can pose a danger for small children and you need to be mindful of the many hazards that can be easily overlooked. Nothing meant for small children should have any small parts. Small children reflexively put everything in their mouth and can easily choke on these.

Another hazard to be mindful of is anything with a sharp edge. It is just common sense to eliminate any type of edge that a child can injure themselves or another child with. Something not as easily apparent may be what the assembled parts can do once they are taken apart. Anyone who has had children or has ever spent time with them knows they take everything apart. Disassemble your product in every combination you can think of and see what you can do with the parts. Better yet, have some children take them apart, under your supervision, and see what they are able to do with them.

Another danger to watch out for is strings, cords, or other long parts that a child could wrap around their neck. Many children are severely injured every year, or worse, from wrapping things like this around their neck. Make sure there is nothing for them to use in your product to do so. The dangers listed in this article should in no way be considered complete, but they do give an idea of some of the more common things to watch out for. If you have any questions about safely designing products for children, have your designs and prototypes looked at by a competent attorney with the specific knowledge needed to make a determination, or a safety design expert.