The holiday season is upon us once again! Wish lists in hand, you wander the toy aisles searching for the gifts that will bring a smile to your kids’ faces. You might be thinking about safety – trying to assess which of the many options will be appropriate and fun. Maybe you have older children as well. Or you’re buying for family members. How do you buy for different ages? Why do age recommendations matter? What products and product parts should you watch out for? In today’s episode we’ll answer these questions and more so that you can feel confident shopping this holiday season.

Key takeaways:

• Age recommendations on products, such as toys, are not related to your child’s abilities but rather to the small parts that are dangerous for younger children. Toys recommended for older children have pieces that are small and can be a choking hazard for younger children.
• Button batteries are very dangerous if swallowed and they are found in everything from toys and greeting cards to remote controls and hearing aids. If you suspect or know your child has swallowed a button battery, it is an emergency. Take them to the hospital immediately and give them a small amount of honey to help coat the battery to prevent it from leaking and burning the esophagus.
• An easy way to check if an item is a choking hazard is to use a toilet paper tube – if the item fits through the tube, it’s a choking hazard.
  

Guests:
Leslie Bangamba, parent
Dave Trafford, grandparent & SSN Chief Executive Producer
Kirstin Weerdenburg, Director of Pediatric Emergency Ultrasound Research & QA, IWK Health Centre

Resources:
- For more information, visit parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/home-safety/aound-the-house/ 
- Watch "Amélie's Second Chance", the documentary about Leslie’s daughter Amélie, who ingested a button battery.

Popping the Bubble Wrap is a podcast of Parachute, Canada’s national injury prevention charity. We release episodes monthly. Visit us at parachute.ca and follow us on Instagram and Facebook at Parachute Canada.

Popping the Bubble Wrap is produced by Story Studio Network.