While shoppers might have kids’ smiles on their minds when holiday shopping, it’s just as important to focus on safety when buying gifts for children. Prevent Blindness®, an organization devoted to ensuring healthy vision from infancy through adulthood, offers the following tips to toy buyers regarding toy safety.

Read box warnings and instructions. Before purchasing a toy read the packaging, paying particular attention to product safety warnings and instructions. When buying toys online, only purchase toys that include the warnings within the product description.

Purchase age-appropriate toys. Kids’ toys come with age recommendations listed on the front of the packaging. Stick to these recommendations. Kids might not have the ability to use toys designed for older children, which might not be safe for them to use.

Avoid certain toys. Toys with sharp or rigid points, spikes, rods, or dangerous edges can pose a threat to youngsters. Choose those with rounded and/or dull edges instead.

Stick to sturdy toys. Toys aren’t always treated delicately, so choose sturdy toys that can withstand tough use without breaking into tiny pieces. Tiny shards can pose a choking hazard to curious youngsters.

Purchase toys with the ASTM designation. ASTM International is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of products, including toys. Toys with the letters ASTM on the packaging have been tested to meet the ASTM toy standards.

Avoid toys with parts that shoot or fly off. These types of toys can damage the eyes and lead to other accidents or injuries.

When shopping for toys for children this holiday season, it is important to consider safety first.