Christmas decorations and novelties

Christmas decorations and novelties come in all shapes and sizes, and many of them look like toys and are attractive to children. But the problem is, they don’t adhere to the same safety standards as toys, and so should not be given to children to play with.

Children under 36 months are at the greatest risk, as the most common problem is decorations having parts that can easily be pulled off and put in the mouth, posing a choking risk.

To ensure you know what you are buying, check the small print on labels. Phrases such as "this is a decoration, not a toy", "keep out of reach of children", or "for use as a decoration only" will mean the product does not adhere to toy safety standards.

Take a look at our other advice on safety at Christmas time.

Did you know?

In an investigation by Trading Standards officers in the south west, 58 decorations and novelties out of 91 tested were found to pose a risk of injury to children. A Christmas stocking was even found on sale with the wording "unsuitable for children under 36 months".