# Toy Safety by Age (2026): Small Parts, Magnets, Button Batteries and Other Rules Parents Should Know > What federal toy rules and the AAP say by age: the small parts test, choking warnings, button battery and magnet dangers, crib toys, and what to do in an emergency. - Source: https://nurseryproof.com/health-safety/toy-safety-by-age - Publisher: NurseryProof (https://nurseryproof.com) - Published: 2026-09-28 - Category: health-safety - Tags: toy safety, small parts, choking hazard, button batteries, magnets, age labels, toddler toys, CPSC - Quick answer: Toys for children under 3 cannot have parts that fit in the CPSC's small parts cylinder, 2.25 by 1.25 inches. Keep button batteries, loose magnets and balloons away from young children, follow the age label, and if you think a child swallowed a battery or magnets, get emergency care right away. ## Key takeaways - Toys for children under 3 are banned if they have or break into small parts that fit a test cylinder 2.25 inches long by 1.25 inches wide. - Toys with small parts for ages 3 to 6 must carry a choking warning; marbles, small balls and balloons need similar warnings. - The AAP says balloons pose a choking risk up to age 8, and most children who die from choking are under 5. - A swallowed lithium coin battery can burn the esophagus within 2 hours, the AAP says; go to the ER or call 911. - Two or more swallowed magnets can attract each other inside the body, the CPSC says; get immediate medical attention. - Take hanging crib toys down when a baby starts pushing up on hands and knees or turns 5 months, whichever comes first. Toy safety changes as a child grows. A rattle that is fine for a baby, a puzzle with small pieces for a 4-year-old and a balloon at a birthday party each carry different risks. This guide sets out the federal toy rules and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advice by age, in plain terms. **How we built this guide:** - We read the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) [small parts summary for 16 CFR part 1501](https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/Small-Parts-16-C-F-R-Part-1501-English.pdf), its [toy safety business guidance](https://www.cpsc.gov/Business--Manufacturing/Business-Education/Toy-Safety), its [magnet safety center](https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Magnets) and its [button cell and coin battery FAQ](https://www.cpsc.gov/FAQ/Button-Cell-and-Coin-Battery-FAQs). - We read the AAP's HealthyChildren.org pages on [buying safe toys](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/How-to-Buy-Safe-Toys.aspx), [choking prevention](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/Pages/Choking-Prevention.aspx) and [button and lithium coin batteries](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/what-parents-need-to-know-about-button-and-lithium-coin-batteries.aspx). - Each rule below names its source. We did not add products to this guide. ## What Are the Toy Safety Rules at Each Age? | Age | Main risks | What the rules and the AAP say | Source | |---|---|---|---| | Birth to crawling | Hanging crib toys, loose items in the crib | Remove mobiles and crib gyms when your baby first pushes up on hands and knees, or at 5 months, whichever comes first | AAP | | Under 3 | Choking on small parts | Toys for under-3s cannot have or break into parts that fit the small parts cylinder | CPSC, 16 CFR part 1501 | | 3 to 6 | Small parts still in the house | Toys with small parts for ages 3 to 6 must carry a warning not to buy them for children under 3 | CPSC, 16 CFR 1500.19 | | Up to 8 | Balloons | "Balloons pose a choking risk to children up to 8 years of age" | AAP | | Under 12 | Hobby kits and chemistry sets | Avoid them for any child younger than 12; they can cause fires or explosions | AAP | | All ages | Button batteries and high-powered magnets | Keep them away from young children; swallowing them needs emergency care | AAP, CPSC | **Key point:** the age on a toy's label is a safety rating, not just a skill level. The AAP says age guidelines "are based on any possible choking hazard, as well as a child's physical and mental abilities at various ages." ## What Counts as a Small Part? The CPSC's small parts summary explains the test. A small part is "any object that fits completely into a specially designed test cylinder 2.25 inches /57.10mm long by 1.25 inches /31.70 mm wide that approximates the size of the fully expanded throat of a child under three years old." A small part can be a whole toy, a separate piece of a toy, or a piece that breaks off during testing that simulates use and abuse by children. If a toy intended for children under 3 has one, it is banned. How the rule decides whether a toy is "intended for" children under 3: - The manufacturer's stated intent, such as the age on the label. - How the toy is advertised and marketed. - Whether it is commonly recognized as a toy for children under 3. The rule does not apply to toys intended only for children 3 and older. That is why a toy labeled 3+ can legally contain small pieces, and why younger siblings are the group most at risk from older children's toys. **Pro tip:** you do not need the test fixture at home. The AAP's simpler rule is "Think LARGE": make sure all toys and parts are larger than your child's mouth. ### The choking warning for ages 3 to 6 Toys and games with small parts intended for children 3 to 6 must be labeled to warn buyers not to give them to children under 3. The CPSC says marbles, small balls and balloons require similar warnings (16 CFR 1500.19). Some items are exempt from the small parts ban because they cannot be made without breaking into small pieces, including balloons, books, crayons, chalk and modeling clay. An exemption is not a safety rating, so keep an eye on these items around young children. ## Why Are Choking Hazards So Serious for Toddlers? The AAP's [choking prevention page](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/Pages/Choking-Prevention.aspx) says "most children who die from choking are under age 5—and two-thirds are babies under a year old." It lists balloons, balls, marbles, pieces of toys and foods as causing the most choking deaths. Household items the AAP says to keep away from infants and children include: - Balloons, marbles and small balls - Toys with small parts, and toys that can be squeezed to fit entirely into a child's mouth - Coins, pen and marker caps - Small button-type batteries and lithium coin batteries **Pro tip:** the AAP suggests checking under furniture and between cushions for coins, small toys and batteries. It also notes that many choking incidents happen when older siblings give small toys or objects to a younger child. ## How Dangerous Are Button Batteries? Button and coin batteries are in remotes, key fobs, thermometers, musical greeting cards, flameless candles and many toys. The AAP's [battery safety page](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/what-parents-need-to-know-about-button-and-lithium-coin-batteries.aspx) says lithium coin batteries about 20 mm across, similar in size to a nickel, are the most dangerous for young children because they are about the size of a child's esophagus. If one gets stuck, it "can cause a chemical reaction that damages or burns through the esophagus within 2 hours." ### What the federal rule requires Under Reese's Law, the CPSC's [battery FAQ](https://www.cpsc.gov/FAQ/Button-Cell-and-Coin-Battery-FAQs) says battery compartments holding replaceable button or coin batteries "must be secured such that they require the use of a tool or at least two independent and simultaneous hand movements to open." Products and their packaging must also carry warnings. At home, the AAP suggests: - Buying batteries in child-resistant packaging that needs scissors to open. - Checking that battery compartments are secure, and taping them shut for extra protection. - Storing devices that use these batteries out of reach, and throwing out old batteries right away, since "dead" batteries can still be dangerous. - Posting the National Battery Ingestion Hotline, 800-498-8666, with your emergency numbers. ### If you think your child swallowed a battery The AAP's steps, in order: 1. **Take your child to the emergency room or call 911.** Tell the doctors it might be a lithium coin battery. 2. **Offer honey if it is on hand.** While you wait for emergency care, the AAP says you can give 2 teaspoons of honey if your child is over 12 months and can swallow liquids, up to 6 doses about 10 minutes apart. 3. **Do not delay emergency care to look for honey.** Give nothing else to eat or drink, and do not induce vomiting. ## Why Are Magnets Dangerous? The CPSC's magnet safety center explains the risk: "When two or more magnets are swallowed, they attract each other internally." It says many incidents have required surgery to remove the magnets, sometimes with repair of the child's damaged stomach and intestines. The symptoms the CPSC lists are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you suspect magnets were swallowed, it says to seek immediate medical attention. The AAP says to be careful about buying toys with high-powered magnets, as with small batteries: if they get loose, younger children might put them in their mouths, noses or ears. Keep older siblings' magnetic toys and loose magnets out of reach of young children. ## What Else Does the AAP Say to Check When Buying Toys? From the AAP's [10 toy buying tips](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/How-to-Buy-Safe-Toys.aspx): - **Read the label**, and show your child how to use the toy correctly. - **Avoid toys that shoot objects into the air**; they can cause eye injuries or choking. - **Avoid loud toys** to protect your child's hearing. - **Choose well-made stuffed toys** with secure seams and parts, remove loose ribbons or strings, and avoid toys with small bean-like pellets. - **Buy sturdy plastic toys**; thin plastic may break into sharp pieces. - **Check electric toys** for a UL mark on the label. For babies, the AAP says soft objects, loose bedding and anything that could increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation or strangulation should stay out of the crib. Our [safe sleep guide](https://nurseryproof.com/sleep-nursery/safe-sleep-guide-whats-safe-in-a-crib) covers what belongs in a crib. ## Who Makes Sure Toys Meet These Rules? The CPSC's [toy safety guidance](https://www.cpsc.gov/Business--Manufacturing/Business-Education/Toy-Safety) explains that the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act made the ASTM F963 toy standard mandatory, as 16 CFR part 1250. Toys for children 12 and under must be third-party tested by a CPSC-accepted lab and certified with a Children's Product Certificate. The current version, ASTM F963-23, applies to toys made after April 20, 2024. The small parts summary adds that toys and children's products must not have hazardous sharp points or edges, or paint and surface coatings with more than 0.009% lead. **Key point:** rules protect you most with new toys from sellers you can identify. Secondhand toys, party favors and older siblings' toys may predate current standards or have missing age labels. Search our [recalls page](https://nurseryproof.com/recalls) before passing down or buying used toys, and see our [babyproofing checklist by age](https://nurseryproof.com/health-safety/babyproofing-checklist-by-age) for the rest of the house. **Bottom line:** follow the age label, keep small parts, balloons, button batteries and loose magnets away from children under 3 and out of reach of older toddlers, and know the two emergencies that cannot wait: a swallowed battery and swallowed magnets. *This guide summarizes public guidance from the CPSC and AAP. It is not medical advice. In an emergency, call 911; for questions about your child's health, talk to your pediatrician.* ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the small parts rule for toys? Toys intended for children under 3 cannot have, or break into, parts that fit completely into the CPSC's test cylinder, 2.25 inches long by 1.25 inches wide. The rule is 16 CFR part 1501. ### Why do toys say "not for children under 3"? Toys with small parts intended for ages 3 to 6 must carry that choking warning. Marbles, small balls and balloons need similar warnings. The small parts ban does not apply to toys meant only for ages 3 and up. ### At what age are balloons safe? The AAP says balloons pose a choking risk to children up to 8 years old, and lists balloons among the household items to keep away from infants and children. ### What should I do if my child swallows a button battery? Go to the emergency room or call 911 right away and say it may be a lithium coin battery. The AAP says you can give 2 teaspoons of honey every 10 minutes, up to 6 doses, to a child over 12 months while you wait, but do not delay care to find honey. ### Are magnetic toys safe for toddlers? Be careful with them. The AAP warns that loose high-powered magnets can end up in a young child's mouth, nose or ears, and the CPSC says two or more swallowed magnets can attract each other inside the body, often requiring surgery. If you suspect a child swallowed magnets, get immediate medical care. ### Are secondhand toys safe? They can be, but check them first. Look for missing age labels, loose parts, broken pieces and exposed batteries, and search CPSC recall records before giving an older toy to a baby or toddler. --- *NurseryProof is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.* ## Sources - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: [Small parts summary for 16 CFR part 1501](https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/Small-Parts-16-C-F-R-Part-1501-English.pdf) - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: [Toy Safety](https://www.cpsc.gov/Business--Manufacturing/Business-Education/Toy-Safety) - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: [Magnet safety center](https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Magnets) - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: [Button Cell and Coin Battery FAQs](https://www.cpsc.gov/FAQ/Button-Cell-and-Coin-Battery-FAQs) - American Academy of Pediatrics: [10 toy buying tips](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/How-to-Buy-Safe-Toys.aspx) - American Academy of Pediatrics: [Choking Prevention](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/Pages/Choking-Prevention.aspx) - American Academy of Pediatrics: [What parents need to know about button and lithium coin batteries](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/what-parents-need-to-know-about-button-and-lithium-coin-batteries.aspx) --- Last updated: 2026-09-28 Canonical URL: https://nurseryproof.com/health-safety/toy-safety-by-age How to cite: "Toy Safety by Age (2026): Small Parts, Magnets, Button Batteries and Other Rules Parents Should Know", NurseryProof, https://nurseryproof.com/health-safety/toy-safety-by-age (checked 2026-09-28). Disclosure: as an Amazon Associate NurseryProof earns from qualifying purchases. Safety information summarizes public guidance and is not medical advice.