How closely do you stick to age recommendations?

Question

My daughter is 11 months but I have never really paid to much attention to age recommendations on toys. If I saw something for her birthday that was for age 18-24 months but I thought she'd enjoy it, it wouldn't stop me buying it - I'd just make sure she was supervised whilst using it. Same with younger age recommendations, so long as she'd enjoy it, that's all I think is important. But I have friends who stick rigidly to the recommendations, but I say as long as they're supervised and aren't above/below weight recommendations so it's not dangerous, do they really matter?

Answer 1

mostly they are guidelines,but they are designed specifically for the age group for development reasons

Answer 2

I have two children and until they turned 3 I never got them any toys that had the '3+' emblem on the box.  I think it's ok to let your child play with toys for 18-24 month olds so long as it's supervised.  For example, these toys may have been given an older rating because they have something like a longish cord attached which could pose a hazard to a younger child if they put it around their neck.  

Toys are usually marked 3+  usually have small parts measuring less than 3 inches and therefore pose a choking hazard.  Someone told me once that you should never give anything to a young child to play with if it has parts that could fit through a toilet roll holder.  This isn't very scientific I know but something to bear in mind.

Answer 3

I never stick to age recommendations, the newborn toys my daughter had became uninteresting by about 6 weeks.

its all to do with the rate of mental and physical development.

My daughter is 2 1/2 and has a scooter meant for 3+ its a little big for her but she copes well on it and shows it off down the park.

My older brother was only 3 when he learnt to ride a bike without stabilisers!.

every child is different.

EDIT in regard to peoples opinions on 3+ toys and choking, i would never let my daughter play with something if i though it could harm her, she's rarely left alone to play anyway.

Answer 4

When I was a new mom, I did adhere to the recommended age guidelines.  Now, I have 3 kids that have developmental delays.  I have relaxed a lot, and have thrown out the rigid guidelines.  The therapists that come to the house bring toys way outside the recommended age.  For example, my 22 month old gets OT for delayed fine motor.  She brings a lite brite.  And I am like really, a lite brite, my oldest son just got that when he turned 7.  And she says those guidelines are guidelines and my youngest needs to work on his grasp and putting in those pegs which he can do unassisted even with his delayed grasp is what he needs.  Obviously we supervise anything with small pieces.  Kids develop differently, and may be developmentally older in an area, or younger.  And even if the kids are younger it doesn't mean that the toy isn't a good pick for them.

Answer 5

If your daughter has a knack for putting things in her mouth, then be really carefull... Otherwise it's fine as long as you can supervise the play.  Most of the danger comes from babies or toddlers putting little bits of toys where they don't belong...

On the same token, my 3 year old will NOT get a skate board for his birthday.

Your friends are party poopers, aren't they just?

Answer 6

Your are absolutely right; a child at 11 months may very well be able to play with and learn from toys labeled for 18-24 months!

I seldom bought or buy toys with the current age rating, anyway, since in general they are figured out and forgotten quickly (mother of three, now a grandma) and I've found that the kids are always more interested in figuring out something a little more challenging -- they eventually figure out how to manipulate the new toy, and enjoy it more when they finally do -- and until then, they think it's great that you're playing with them and showing them how it works!

I guess the worst thing that can happen is that your child may be a bit more advanced . . . keep supervising closely, though, crayons can be fun early too, but for some reason a lot of two year olds think they taste good!  You sound like a great mom.

Answer 7

the age recommendations for baby toys are for unsupervised play.  basically what they mean, in most cases, is that the company can't be sued if there are problems caused by small parts etc that your child has broken off or misused.  there are instances where toys are dangerous if used incorrectly, but these are usually toys for much older children (e.g. chemistry sets), and are always clearly labelled as hazards.

it's nearly impossible for anyone with more than one child to keep the younger child out of the older child's toys.  it'd be a sensible precaution to take a basic first aid course so that you know what to do if your child is choking, but beyond that, you should just be vigilant for problems.

the other reason for age recommendations is that often children who are too young for a toy will not gain as much enjoyment from it.  as a child for whom it is age-appropriate.  however, this is usually apparent from the child's reaction to the toy, and isn't a safety issue.

children develop at different rates, particularly at such a young age, and there is no magical barrier they go through the day they turn six months, for example, that makes toys that are designed for six months upwards suddenly become appealing or safer!

similarly, children will often continue to play with old favourite toys long after you think they should have grown out of them.

as a general rule, when i'm looking after children or deciding what to buy for presents, i tend to stick to the age guidelines as follows:

i never give a newborn something that doesn't say specifically that it's suitable for newborns.

i never give a child under two years old a toy that says it's not suitable for under-threes unless i'm absolutely sure the child will not be left unsupervised with the toy.  for children aged two, i will use my judgement as to the development of the particular child as to whether the toy is suitable.

for children over three, i will again use my judgement as to what is safe to let them play with unsupervised, and will sometimes also take into account whether there are younger siblings who may pick up the toy if it is left about.  this depends a lot on the family of the child in question.

toys like bug boxes for collecting insects, for example, are usually labeled 4+ or 5+.  this does not mean a younger child or even a baby couldn't play with it.  after all, it's basically just a plastic box with a lid. but the age restriction for things like this usually refers to the suitability of the intended use of the item, not the actual item itself, for the age of the child.

for buying birthday presents i tend to stick more closely to the age restrictions than i would when deciding what to let a child in my care play with.  this is more to do with the reactions of the parents than the suitability of the toy.  buying toys for family, i assess the toy with respect to the individual child, and am trusted by my family not to give unsuitable gifts.

Answer 8

I dont pay attention to the age recommendations at all. I look at the toy myself to check out what kind of pieces there are and whether or not they will detach. If it looks safe to me then I will get it for my nephew and neice(22 months and 3 1/2). I just bought my niece a playset the other day that was for ages 7 and up. She plays with it everyday and doesn't have any issues.

I would say as long as a parent is paying attention to the child then the age recommendations shouldn't matter at all. They are just there for a general idea of what ages will be able to play with that particular toy. It does help people with no children or that don't have any idea what to buy for a child of a certain age.  

Answer 9

I'm about the same as you. I use it as a general guideline.

Answer 10

My daughter is 11 months old as well.  September 27th!  Almost 1, oh my where did the year go........

I do the same as you, I do not go by the age range recommendation.  It is  just that, a recommendation.  I think of it as a similar situation to clothing.  She is also is 18-24 month clothes, though some 12 still fit.  Its all just a general guide, without a recommendation at all we might be clueless what would be appropriate.  stick with what works for your kid (hey, shes smarter than all other babies in the whole world in your eyes, isnt she??  of COURSE 18-24 months works for her!!  lol)

Answer 11

I'm like you unless it says "not suitable for under 3s" because it's a choking hazard.

Answer 12

18-24 months is probably OK. The line you need to be careful with is 3 years - because it's okay for toys for kids older than 3 to have small or detachable parts which might be a choking hazard for a baby.

Doesn't matter if they're supervised. You'll never be quick enough to stop every possible chance baby has to put something in its mouth, and they can choke to death just as easy with you right there. It's not worth the risk.

Answer 13

I never did on purpose, but it turned out that whatever I got my daughter would end up being age-appropriate for her most of the time.  Yes, she's had things for older and younger kids, but like you said, as long as you supervise and she enjoys it, I don't see a problem.

Answer 14

i think those guidelines are out on to protect the manufacturer from lawsuits and not the child from harm!! You know, 18 month old chokes on something from a toy meant for a 2 year old "Well maam, the box does say for 2 years+" As long as you check to ensure that the toy is not dangerous and you supervise (as you are doing) I wouldn't worry!! You know where your child is physically and mentally so what they say is pretty much irrelevant!!

Answer 15

I tend to ignore them, unless in the case of small parts, because my son has a tending to put things in his mouth!! Though, obviously if it's going to be far too old for him to understand I don't bother with it. I'm always in the room, or playing with him anyway :)

Answer 16

I'm with you on this one, they are guidelines and kids all develop at different rates.  As long as they are supervised, especially if there are small parts, and the child gets something out of it then why not!

Answer 17

This actually depends on whether the toy is safe at an age level so any toy that is totally safe is okay even if it is not within the age range.

Supervising is somewhat problematic because it does not give the child total freedom to manage the toy all by themselves which is part of exploring and playing and developing their own skills at their own pace. All of us who are older remember birthday parties where elaborate gifts were not as interesting to the small child as the box the toy came in, Many toys that are safe depend on the individual abilities and interests of the particular child.  So use your judgment as a parent and if she really likes something sticking to rigid guidelines for age are not necessary