If you are making a stuffed animal that will be used by a small child, you should take care to follow basic safety guidelines, as toys can become a source of peril if made improperly. Follow these simple guidelines, and you should have not only a cute keepsake for your child but a safe one too.
- Avoid buttons – they can come off and become lodged in a small child’s throat, nose or ear cavities. Instead, try to use appliqué or embroidery for eyes and noses. If you must use buttons, make sure that you use button and carpet thread and that you also use a small button on the underneath side to anchor the outside button.
- Use quality poly stuffing that is non-flammable - There are several reasons for this suggestion:
o The stuffing will be non-flammable, thus safeguarding against greater injury in case of fire
o Quality stuffing can also reduce the risk of increased asthma in children due to dust and allergens
- Watch out for strangulation hazards – Most often these are long laces or strings that can become wrapped around a young child’s neck. Make sure that any dangling parts are securely fastened and are not long enough to strangle a child