When your toddler starts exploring the world through play, safety is everything. Little ones learn through exploring – through touch, taste, sound and movement and also test boundaries. Making sure you find safe toys for toddlers means finding items that nurture their natural curiosity while also protecting against choking hazards, toxic materials or sharp edges.
Here’s our guide to how to pick toys that are fun, age appropriate and safe for your toddler.
How to understand toy safety standards
In Jersey and the UK, toys must by law adhere to strict safety standards. The key things to look out for include the UKCA mark, which shows the toy complies with UK safety, health, and environmental protection standards. The CE mark is also valid in Jersey and appears on toys across Europe. Also keep an eye out for EN71 certification, which covers flammability, mechanical safety and limits for toxic substances. You can find this information on packaging when buying instore or in the descriptions when buying online. Be careful when buying from an unknown online seller and it’s best to avoid cheap or unbranded items without clear manufacturer details.
How to choose non-toxic materials
Any parent will know that toddlers explore with their mouths and hands so it’s important to be mindful of the materials toys are made of. Look for toys labelled as non-toxic, BPA-free, and phthalate-free. Wooden toys are a good eco-friendly option, although these can be more expensive. The key things to look for are sustainably sourced wood, water-based paints and natural oils.
With plastic toys, look for labels including BPA-free or PVC-free. Recycled plastic is a good eco-friendly option. With soft toys, they usually have labelling on what age they are suitable for. Be aware of choking risk by avoiding soft toys with small buttons, eyes or embellishments that could come loose. The safest soft toy materials for toddlers include organic cotton or Oeko-Tex certified materials, which means they have been tested for harmful chemicals.
Safe toys for toddlers
Toy safety is more than just materials, it can also be making sure you choose age-appropriate toys for them developmentally.
Recommendations for children aged 12 to 18 months include stacking blocks, shape sorters and simple musical toys. Avoid small pieces, detachable parts or long cords. For toddlers aged 18 months to 24 months, recommended safe toys include push and pull toys, soft boys or sturdy ride on toys that promote balance and strength. With second-hand toys, check for rough edges or broken parts that could cause a hazard. With ride-ons, check that the wheels are secure. Safe toys for toddlers aged two to three include play sets such as kitchens or doctors kits, chunky building blocks and first art supplies (make sure these are age suitable and safe by choosing non-toxic crayons and paints.)
It is important to always supervise creative play as children are quick to put things in their mouths. Check packaging and labels for age guidelines.
Toy safety hazards
Even toys that are designed to be safe may encounter faults or safety hazards. It is important to check your toddler’s toys regularly for signs of damage. Look out for loose or broken parts, splintered wood or cracked plastic, exposed metal, batteries coming loose or playing up or strings or cords longer than 30cm which could be a strangulation hazard. If in doubt, replace or recycle the toy.
How to keep playing safe at home for toddlers
Here are some top tips for keeping playing with toys safe for toddlers.
- Supervise play, especially when they are getting used to a new toy
- Rotate toys regularly, giving you the chance to check for damage and clean them
- Clean toys. Soft toys can usually be washed on a gentle cycle. Wooden or plastic toys can be wiped with a simple and safe vinegar solution or baby-safe disinfectant.
- Store safely. Use low baskets and shelves to prevent stacking hazards. If your toddler has older siblings, store their toys out of reach.
Buying safe toys in Jersey
It can be good to shop local and in person for safe toys for toddlers so that you can read the packaging clearly, get advice from the shop owners and get a good sense of what you are buying.
Some great options include:
- Bambola Toymaster, St Helier: Jersey’s only remaining family run toy shop with a great range of baby and pre-school toys.
Address: Waterloo House, Don St, JE2 4TQ, Jersey
Phone: 01534 888880
Website: https://bambola.je/
- The Entertainer, St Helier: Well-known high-street toy shop with clear age labelling and UKCA-approved brands.
Address: Le Gallais Building, 64 Bath Street, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 4SU
Phone: 01534 724339
Website: https://www.thetoyshop.com/store/jersey
- Cosmic Duck: A retail toy and hobby shop with a junior collection and well-known brands.
Address: Unit 3, Doue House, Longueville Road, St Saviour, Jersey, JE2 7SA
Phone: 01534 716506
Website: https://www.cosmicduck.co.uk/
- Amazon UK and John Lewis Online also deliver to Jersey, but always double-check product listings for official safety markings.
- If you prefer eco-conscious or small-business options, many UK-based brands ship to the Channel Islands with minimal packaging and carbon-offset delivery.
Recommended safe toy brands for toddlers
These toymakers come highly approved and ship to people who live in Jersey.
- Green Toys: Recycled plastic toys made in the USA, BPA- and phthalate-free.
Website: https://www.greentoys.co.uk/
- Le Toy Van: British-designed wooden toys finished with child-safe paints.
Website: https://letoyvan.co.uk/
- Tender Leaf Toys: Beautiful, ethically made wooden toys certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Website: https://www.tenderleaftoys.com/
- Grimm’s: Open-ended wooden toys crafted in Germany with natural pigments.
Website: https://www.grimms.eu/
All of these brands comply with EN71 and UKCA safety standards, making them excellent choices for toddlers in Jersey.
Other respected toy brands that are safe for toddlers include Jellycat, VTech, Lego Duplo, Baby Einstein, Early Learning Centre, Fisher-Price, Little Tikes and Melissa and Doug to name a few.
Best safe toys for toddlers
Here are some of our top picks of toys that are great and safe for toddlers.
John Lewis has a great range of toddler toys available online. Great options for children aged one to two include stacking cups or hoops. How about this highly-rated stacking cups set for £8 https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-stacking-cups-set/p112356438
Melissa and Doug offers a great range of safe wooden toys. The Entertainer, which has a branch in St Helier, has many on special offer here: https://www.thetoyshop.com/brands/melissa-and-doug The great thing about shopping online is you can often search by age.
Early Learning Centre has many sensory toys that are safe and also great for learning. There are often special offers, including buy one get one half price at the moment. https://www.elc.co.uk/ A great option is this caterpillar sensory toy https://www.elc.co.uk/little-lot-twisty-musical-caterpillar-sensory-toy/p/571679 and this wooden hammer bench https://www.elc.co.uk/woodlets-hammer-bench/p/560229.
