Seven things every parent needs to know before buying toys for children this Christmas

There's still more than a month left for Christmas but shopping is well and truly under way for the big day.

And top of the list for parents is toys. The hunt will be on for gifts that put a smile on children's faces this festive season but safety experts have a warning for shoppers, especially as a lot of presents are bought online.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) says it’s vital to keep some basic safety advice in mind. They have pointed out a number of things that parents should be aware of before buying toys. These are listed below, however more information can be found here.

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1. Use reputable retailers

Always use reputable retailers, ideally with a high street presence. Many will be members of trade associations whose rules call on them to meet high standards.

2. Is the price too good to be true?

RoSPA says: "If the price is ‘too good to be true’, it probably isn’t a legitimate product."

3. Check if the product has been recalled

Before giving the present, check for recalls at www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls This website shows which toys or other products have been recalled due to safety fears.

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4. Look for safety marks

Look for a CE, UKCA or UKNI mark on the toys. Check for warnings to ensure the toy is age appropriate and suitable for young children. This is a claim by the manufacturer that the toy meets regulatory requirements. Products which don't include these marks/symbols may not be intended to be used as toys, but are novelties which may not be safe for children to play with.

5. Will young children have access to gifts meant for older children?

RoSPA says: "When buying gifts for older children and adults, consider whether young children could get access to the products. For example, small high strength magnets may look very appealing to young children, and water beads, which are very small when dry, can easily be lost then found by little hands later. If either of these items are swallowed, they can cause serious internal injuries."

6. Take care when shopping online

The safety experts say: "Special care should be taken when shopping online, especially from online marketplaces where products may be listed by sellers outside of the UK. Always look for details of who is selling the item and where they are located, as goods from outside the UK may not adhere to the same safety standards."

7. Do the toys have button batteries?

Take care when buying products containing button batteries, which can be seriously harmful if swallowed. RoSPA recommends you check that toys with button batteries have a lockable battery compartment, which is required under the Toy Safety Regulations. The same is not legally required of other products such as remote controls, car keys, weighing scales (and many more) but RoSPA would still recommend that you conduct checks to make sure they are secure and undamaged.