Stupid age guidelines on toys!

[boo64]

Can anyone tell me why the age guidelines on toys are so stupid!! I mean what exactly are kids under 3 meant to play with as nearly everything seems to say unsuitable for kids under 3.

I know that in theory there are choking hazards but surely if you select carfully/ use your judgement and supervise them what's the problem!!?

Take Duplo - why is it for 2 to 5 year olds - it's big so certainly isn't a choking hazard?

Rant over....anyone want to join in??!

I think it's because the rules for toys under 3 are far more stricter. But yes toys for 2 year olds are quite hard to find.

I remeber feeling this way. I think you just have to use your best judgement.

I think by saying no to under 3s they are protecting themselves against legislatin - guidelines are far stricter re moving/removable parts, etc. We didn't stick to the age ranges but used our own judgement and let DD enjoy toys in a supervised way.

My girls (4,3 and 7 months) have always played with toys outside of their age rating. Like you say, I believe as long as you supervise them there is no problem

When shopping for the girls, I always look at the toy first and then the age rating. If I think it looks ok I buy it anyway.

ELC is really bad for this. There are loads of things in there that my ds would love but they say for older ages.

I agree - easier to just use your judgement and I always check toys over carefully.

We bought a toy microwave for him recently and it said it was unsuitable because of a small light bulb - but this is hidden behind a casing and would be practically impossible for an adult to access.

Yep I guess it's just all part of the much discussed litigation culture.

Someone in the toy industry once told me that to rate things for under 3's they have to go through an approval process, which is very expensive as it's a fixed cost regardless of the quantity you actually expect to produce. So for smaller manufacturers it's too expensive, and they just have to label things as 3+ and assume that parents will use their common sense. That's why you'll often see things with a 3+ rating on them, but pictures on the packaging of obviously younger children playing with them.

I've always had a lot of 2nd hand/passed on toys for ds, and as it's rare to get the packaging with them I don't know the age range recommendations and just go by what I think - ignorance is bliss sometimes!

my sister got this her ds was playing with pens and he ate a bit of it when took him to the doctors was told he should not be playing with them as was not 3
he was 4 days away from being 3 so what the difference he still would of ate it in 4 days time

That's so stupid - like they magically morph into super sensible people the moment the clock strikes midnight on their 3rd birthdays.

That was a dumb doctor!

That's so stupid - like they magically morph into super sensible people the moment the clock strikes midnight on their 3rd birthdays.

That was a dumb doctor!

I totally agree. DD got a play kitchen last Christmas when she was 21 months which is supposedly for 3+. She is not exactly tall for her age but would definitely be too tall to use it when she's 3.

I always use my judgement when choosing toys although I think dd is quite sensible and very rarely puts things in her mouth anymore.

I think sometimes the guidelines are for when they will get the most out of said toy. For example a jigsaw for age 5 might be perfectly safe for age 2 but would be too difficult

True - maybe it's that as well. I know some of the stuff we've had as presents for older age groups just didn't work yet for ds as he wasn't at that stage yet.

Anyway I don't know why I bother with toys as ds, in classic toddler style, spends ages faffing with a few pans, a whisk and a few straws....thankfully without warning signs telling me they aren't to be played with by under 3s!