MOST children aged below one lead a 'hand-to-mouth' existence.

Dr Tham Lai Peng, senior consultant in the department of emergency medicine at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, said: 'Toys will be chewed and sucked. Everything tends to go into their mouths.'

As babies usually explore their surroundings through touch or taste, parents should examine toys carefully before handing them to their infants.

Dr Chew Su Yah from the University Children's Medical Institute, department of paediatrics, National University Hospital, advised parents to choose age-appropriate toys and to supervise play.

Such toys should also be cleaned regularly, especially if they are shared among children.

Most approved plastic toys are easily cleaned with a wet towel or rinsed in mild dishwashing detergent mixed with water. Soft toys should be made of fillers that can be washed with water and mild cleansers.

The general guidelines on toy safety include making sure that toys are made of non-toxic material, fabrics are flame-resistant, toys are sturdy and do not produce loud noises and battery compartments, if any, are child-proof.

Dr Tham added: 'Be careful of flying or spinning parts like shooting pellets and boomerangs. They can injure the child or cause blindness if he is hit in the eye.'

Suitable toys for babies below one include washable soft toys, squeaky soft toys and mobiles which can be secured tightly.

When the child reaches his first year, he will be keen to explore the world and to figure out how things work. However, he may have poor balance and fall easily. Parents can steer him towards toys like picture books, ride-on toys, buckets and spades and large building blocks.

Dr Chew suggested choosing toys that are sturdy enough to withstand pulling and twisting.

Children above two years of age will copy adult actions but lack the understanding and coordination that adults possess.

For example, Dr Tham said, children like to climb but they do not understand the height, distance or risk of falling.

Therefore, they should wear appropriate safety gear like helmets and knee guards if riding bicycles or scooters and should only ride supervised in enclosed areas. Places near stairs, pools or car porches are no-go areas.

Children in play areas like ball pens, video arcades and playgrounds should also be supervised. A recent two-year Singapore study on nearly 20,000 children who sustained unintentional injuries found that about 10 per cent of the kids were hurt in a playground. Of these, roughly 60 per cent were younger than six years old.

When asked how caregivers and parents can educate their children on the importance of safety when playing with toys, Dr Tham said parents should discuss with their children how to use toys properly. They need to explain to them the consequences if they do otherwise.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Sep 4, 2008.

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