Safe Toys for Newborns
Newborns don’t play with toys the way older babies do, but rattles, teethers, soft books, and crib mobiles still show up early — and choosing them safely matters more than picking the most stimulating option. Here’s what CPSC regulations and AAP guidance say about small parts, batteries, magnets, and what does (and doesn’t) belong in the crib.
- KEY TAKEAWAYS
Look for toys sized larger than your baby’s mouth, free of loose ribbons or strings, and free of button batteries or magnets your baby could reach if the toy breaks. The single most important crib rule: keep stuffed animals, loveys, and all toys out of the crib for the first year — the AAP says nothing but a snugly fitted sheet belongs with your baby in the crib. Hanging crib mobiles and toys must come off entirely once your baby reaches 5 months or can push up on hands and knees, whichever comes first.
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Small Parts and the Choking Test
Toys intended for children under 3 are federally regulated under 16 CFR Part 1501, which bans small parts that fit inside a test cylinder measuring 1.25 inches wide by 2.25 inches long — a size meant to approximate a young child’s throat. The AAP puts the same idea more simply: “Make sure all toys and parts are larger than your child’s mouth to prevent choking.”
This matters most for hand-me-downs and older siblings’ toys: items made for 3-to-6-year-olds are allowed to contain small parts as long as they carry a choking-hazard warning label meant to keep them away from children under 3. Watch too for bean-bag-style plush or pellet-filled stuffed toys, which can leak small filling if the seam opens, and remove any loose ribbons or strings from stuffed animals, since the AAP notes these can be a strangulation risk.
Batteries and Magnets
The AAP recommends avoiding toys with button or lithium coin batteries, or high-powered magnets that could detach: “If they get loose, younger children might be tempted to put [them] in their mouths, noses or ears, which can cause serious injuries.” A swallowed button battery is a medical emergency — if you ever suspect your baby has swallowed one, call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222) or go to the ER immediately rather than waiting to see if symptoms appear.
Don’t assume a toy is safe from these hazards just because it’s marketed for babies. Check the battery compartment yourself, and inspect magnetic toys (including some crib mobiles and rattles) for pieces that could work loose over time.
- BUTTON BATTERY WARNING
Federal rules under Reese’s Law now require battery compartments on most consumer products to need a tool, or at least two independent, simultaneous hand movements, to open — specifically to keep coin and button cell batteries away from young children. Toy products for children under 14 instead follow the toy safety standard (ASTM F963, referenced in 16 CFR Part 1250), which has its own battery-access and labeling requirements. Either way, if a toy takes replaceable batteries, check that the compartment is genuinely secure before handing it to your baby.
What Belongs In and Out of the Crib
The AAP is direct about this one: keep stuffed animals and most toys out of your newborn’s crib, because even a small, soft object adds a real entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation risk. The only exception is toys that strap securely to the outside of the crib rail rather than sitting loose inside it. For the first year, the safest crib setup is a firm mattress and a snugly fitted sheet — nothing else.
Hanging crib toys and mobiles are a partial exception, but only temporarily and only mounted out of reach: remove them once your baby reaches 5 months old or starts pushing up on hands and knees, whichever happens first, since a baby who can reach a hanging toy can also get tangled in it.
Choosing a Newborn-Appropriate Toy
Beyond the choking, battery, and crib rules above, the AAP suggests a few general standards: choose sturdy, well-made plastic or fabric toys, confirm any electric toy carries UL approval, and check that labels specify nontoxic materials. Age labeling on packaging is a genuine safety signal, not just a developmental suggestion — it reflects the small-parts and other testing a toy was actually designed and evaluated against.
For the sleep environment itself, see our Safe Crib Setup and Safe Sleep for Babies guides — toy safety and sleep safety are closely related but covered in full there rather than repeated here.
Newborn Toy Safety Checklist at a Glance
| Check | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Size | Larger than the CPSC choking-test cylinder (1.25" wide × 2.25" long) — too big to fit in your baby’s mouth |
| Trim | No loose ribbons, strings, or ties on stuffed animals |
| Batteries | No accessible coin/button cell battery; compartment should require a tool or two simultaneous hand movements to open |
| Magnets | None that could detach or work loose over time |
| Material | Labeled nontoxic; sturdy plastic or securely stitched fabric; UL-approved if electric |
| Crib use | Only toys that strap securely to the outside of the crib rail; nothing loose inside the crib |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
This guide is based on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ HealthyChildren.org guidance “How to Buy Safe Toys” and “Suitable Sleeping Sites,” the CPSC’s small parts regulation (16 CFR Part 1501), and CPSC guidance on Reese’s Law button and coin cell battery requirements.