Irish parents hit with Christmas shopping warning amid hidden dangers in shops

Irish parents have already started their Christmas shopping with toy shops already seeing a rush as people aim to bag gifts early.

While many parents will be hunting for a bargain, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has released advice so parents avoid scams and potential dangers with toys and electrical items.

They issued the advice in eight points on their website:

Always buy toys from reputable retailers – they keep the toys in good condition and they will usually accept returns. Rogue traders may ignore health and safety standards and sell fake toys. Carefully check toys that were bought online, from street traders, and toys bought second-hand

Check for the CE mark – if the toy does not have the official CE mark, or the CE mark is missing, don’t buy it!

Check the age range – check if there is a warning about an appropriate age group for the toy, particularly the 0-3 symbol, as this will indicate if it is suitable for the child. Think about any younger children in your household who might be in danger if they play with the toy also

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Give recommendations of appropriate toys to family and friends who wish to buy for your child

Check for detachable small parts that could lodge in the ears, nose or throat, and cause an injury or a choke hazard to your child

Check that it has no sharp edges, long cords or cables – avoid dangerous or foldaway parts or small holes that could trap little fingers

Watch out for toys containing magnets – toys made of multiple magnetic parts could be harmful if ingested as they can get stuck together and cause greater issues. If you think your child has ingested a small part of a toy or a magnet bring them to the emergency room straight away. Toys with magnets should have a warning displayed at the point of sale, on the packaging or attached to the toy

Buy a good quality charger – if you are buying electronic equipment for your child. Always buy chargers from a reputable retailer and check that they have the CE mark. With poor quality chargers there is a greater risk of electrocution, fire or damage to the device. When buying a charger, if it feels very light, or if the USB port is up-side-down or if words are spelled incorrectly on the charger, don’t buy it