Is your child’s toy dangerous? 8 safety checks parents need to make

Toy safety experts outline the key things parents should check before letting children play with both old and new toys

Make sure their new toys are safe (Alamy/PA)

As Christmas approaches, children will be gleefully looking forward to all the new toys in their stockings, with not a thought, of course, about how safe – or unsafe – they might be.

Checking a toy’s safety is a parent’s job, and that’s not just for new toys either. Many children have cupboards full of toys, some of them dating back years, and, particularly for young children,  regularly checking toys are safe and without loose parts could actually make a life or death difference.