Wooden toys come with their own special safety concerns. Here are a few points to be aware of before letting your child play with any wood toys.
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Be aware of imperfections such as wood splinters. Wood is tough and won't break like plastic, however over time, the wear on a piece of wood may cause it to splinter.
Have a look at the toys to make sure that all the surfaces are still smooth.
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Clean all toys before you let your child play with them. This doesn't actually apply only to wooden toys, but to all toys. As a woodworker, I've seen my share of workshops and factories. They can be very dusty places.
Wipe down everything with a damp cloth before they start playing with any toy.
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Wood toys may have pointy corners that plastic toys don't usually have. Wood blocks, come to mind for example. Make sure your child is aware of the danger of these differences.
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Play with your child the first time a new toy is given to them. It's surprising how a child can figure out the strangest ways to get themselves hurt.
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If the wooden toy is a hand me down, verify that the paint is not coming off and look for other signs of wear. It's not worth taking the chance of lead paint exposure if the toy is an older toy.
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Some wooden toys may be more 'natural' in the sense that they may not be coated with any type of paint finish. Now, although this is a good thing, as there would be no danger of toxic chemicals, wood is a porus material.
This means that dirt and of course baby saliva can get into the pores of the wood. It is a good idea to occasionally wipe the toys with a soapy cloth to clean and disinfect the wood once in a while.
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Wood toys may be heavier or denser than plastic toys. A wooden block that is thrown can hurt if it hits someone the wrong way. Not only from its corners, but because of its weight.
Some wood toys come with strings, such as wooden trains. Children can then swing the train around at the end of the string. make sure your child knows that this is dangerous.
