Age limits for soft toys?

[wishIwasonholiday10]

I only just noticed some of DD's soft toys have age limits eg suitable for 12 months+ or suitable for 3 years+ etc. Does anyone know what's behind these? Is it related to the fabric or to things attached to it that could come off and be choking hazard? Do you assume the ones without labels are safe?

Feeling a bit guilty as I just noticed a toy DD (13 months) was chewing on is labelled 3 years+ and I hadn't read the label (it was a gift given directly to her) and hoping it hasn't done any harm.

I would assume things like eye may become loose or bits of fur might shed.

I think it's different for each thing. Sometimes it could be a choking hazard and sometimes it's because the required motor skills are for that particular thing.

What was the toy? My 2 yo has loads of 3+ things and some of them I have no idea why

Sometimes it's a genuine choking hazard (button, eye, ribbon etc) but often it's just because the 3+ licence is so much cheaper. Use your own judgement.

These were just typical soft toys, most of them gifts from my Mum and sisters so not chosen by me. The one in question doesn't seem to have anything easily removable but it does say the fur is made of polyester which might not have been the best thing to be chewing on.

Normally I do read the labels on toys and keep roughly to the recommendation but I didn't know soft toys sometimes have age limits in the label too.

I didn't know that about the 3+ license being cheaper.

Although the Jellycat toy which says suitable from newborn is also polyester so I don't know what the difference would be?

To sell to under 3's there's additional regulations so many manufacturers will just put 3+