Fidget spinners are the new trend. Aside from driving teachers inside the classroom crazy, they can also pose a choking hazard to young children. A mother from Texas is warning other parents about the potential dangers of the spinner toy after her daughter got a small piece of the toy, approximately the side of a quarter was lodged in her throat. The mother posted a cautionary Facebook status which was shared over 700,000 times to promote awareness of the toy’s danger. The child was located in the back seat of the car and the mother turned around to see her face turn red and a panicked looked on her daughter’s face. The daughter has apparently put the toy into her mouth in an effort to clean off a part. Fortunately, doctors were able to remove the piece from her throat, and she seems to be recovering. However, this incident serves as a reminder for parents to be careful with any item containing small parts.
Toy industry experts have told parents to be careful when a new fad starts, “When a toy craze like the spinners hit, you may be tempted to buy one for your kid on the corner when you see a street vendor has them, but the safety of products sold outside a reputable retailer cannot be verified”. Parents should only purchase products from toy retailers that comply with U.S. safety standards and make sure that age-appropriate packaging is clearly visible.
In fact, the fidget spinner has a warning that the gadget is intended for those who are 12 and older, but it seems like children much younger are getting their hands on them. Online reviews for the product indicate that they are prone to breaking as certain brands may be cheaply manufactured and sell for only a few dollars each.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission bans small parts under 2.25 inches long by 1.25 inches wide for children under the age of three. Some of the pieces of the fidget spinner appear to fall into that category and customers claim that the bushings pop out easily. Be careful of any toy or gadget you give to a young child and check to see what the suitable age on the package is.