Safety Checks Every Family Should Run on a Used Toy

A practical checklist for inspecting secondhand toys for recalls, choking hazards, sharp edges, and worn-out parts before they reach little hands.

Why Used Toys Deserve a Structured Inspection

Secondhand toys can stretch a family's budget significantly, but the savings only make sense if the toy is genuinely safe. Unlike new products, used toys have an unknown history — previous owners may not have followed age guidelines, assembly may be incomplete, and critical warning labels are often missing or worn off.

The inspection process described here is grounded in the kinds of hazards flagged most frequently by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and pediatric safety organizations: sharp edges from broken parts, small components that become choking hazards through wear, toxic surface finishes, and toys subject to active recalls that continue circulating in secondhand markets. For a broader look at the trade-offs involved, see The Real Trade-Offs of Buying Secondhand Toys for Children.

Work through the checklist below in good lighting, ideally at a table. Bring a small flashlight for recessed areas and a ruler for measuring small parts.

Required

Small-parts tester

Measures whether detached toy components pose a choking risk for children under three.

Required

Flashlight or headlamp

Illuminates recessed battery compartments, seams, and interior spaces that are hard to see in ambient light.

Required

CPSC recall database (recalls.gov)

Allows you to search by product name or manufacturer to confirm whether a toy has an active or historical recall.

Optional

Lead test swabs

Provides a quick field check for lead content in paint on older or unbranded toys with peeling finishes.

Optional

Ruler or measuring tape

Helps verify cord lengths and opening dimensions against established safety thresholds.

The Inspection Checklist

Run every used toy through all applicable groups below before allowing a child to handle it. Items marked must are non-negotiable; skip them and the inspection is incomplete.

Recall and Registration Check

Search the toy's name, brand, and model number on the CPSC recall database (recalls.gov) before doing anything else. Must

Note the approximate manufacture date if visible and confirm the recall search covers that production period. Must

Check whether the toy carries a registration card or batch code that would allow recall notifications to reach a new owner. Should

Age Grading and Labeling

Locate the age-grading label and confirm it is appropriate for the child who will use it — if the label is missing, look up the original product specifications. Must

Verify that choking hazard warnings are present or can be independently confirmed for children under three years old. Must

Check for ASTM F963 or equivalent safety standard markings, which indicate the toy was designed to meet US toy safety requirements. Should

Structural Integrity

Inspect all seams, joints, and fasteners by applying firm hand pressure — any cracking, separation, or sharp deformation is a failure. Must

Run a finger along all edges and corners; no painted, plastic, or metal surface should produce a scratch or cut sensation. Must

Pull on any attached cords, strings, or ribbons — anything longer than 12 inches poses a strangulation risk on toys for children under eight. Must

Shake the toy and listen for rattling internal components that may indicate broken parts inside a sealed body. Should

Check all hinges, wheels, and moving parts for smooth operation without pinch points. Should

Small Parts and Choking Hazards

Use a small-parts tester (or a toilet-paper tube as a rough proxy) to assess any detached component — anything that fits fully inside poses a choking risk for children under three. Must

Remove and discard any loose pieces that do not belong to the toy's original design. Must

Check that all screws, rivets, and plugs are fully seated and cannot be removed with a child's hand strength. Should

Surface Finish and Materials

Examine paint or printed surfaces for peeling, flaking, or chips — degraded finishes on older toys may contain lead-based paint and require disposal. Must

Smell the toy: a strong chemical, musty, or mildew odor is a reason to reject it, particularly for foam or fabric items. Must

Look for discoloration, sticky residue, or surface degradation on plastic that may indicate UV damage or chemical breakdown. Should

Soft Toys and Fabric Items

Squeeze and flex the toy thoroughly to detect any internal hard component — broken wire armatures or cracked plastic frames are common hidden hazards. Must

Inspect all stitching for tears that could expose stuffing materials, which pose ingestion and choking risks. Must

Check button eyes, sewn-on decorations, and accessories to confirm they cannot be pulled free with moderate force. Should

Battery-Powered and Electronic Toys

Open every battery compartment and inspect for corrosion, leakage, or residue — do not install new batteries until the compartment is clean and dry. Must

Confirm the battery compartment cover requires a tool or adult-level effort to open, preventing a child from accessing batteries independently. Must

Check all external wiring and charging ports for fraying, exposed conductors, or cracked insulation. Must

Test all electronic functions briefly to confirm the toy operates as intended without unexpected sounds, heat, or sparking. Should

Older Toys and Lead Paint Risk

Toys manufactured before 1978 carry a meaningful risk of lead-based paint, and that risk extends to any toy whose country of origin or manufacture date is unknown. Peeling or chipping paint on older items should be treated as a presumptive hazard. If you cannot verify manufacture date and paint integrity, the cautious approach is to discard the toy rather than test and repair.

Once a toy passes this checklist, sanitizing is your next step. Different materials need different approaches — Cleaning and Sanitising Used Toys Without Damaging Them walks through safe methods for plastic, fabric, wood, and electronics without causing damage.

If you're also evaluating new discounted toys alongside secondhand finds, Before You Buy a Discounted Toy: A Pre-Purchase Checklist covers age suitability, safety marks, and price history checks that apply specifically to retail purchases.

What to Do If a Toy Fails Inspection

A toy that fails any must item should not be passed to a child. Depending on the failure, you have a few options:

Recall confirmed: Do not donate or resell. Dispose of it or contact the manufacturer — some recall notices include instructions for returning the product for a refund or replacement part. For guidance on how recall systems work and where to search, see Toy Recalls and Secondhand Markets: What Buyers Need to Know.
Repairable damage: If a fastener is missing and a replacement is readily available, assess whether the repair restores the toy to a genuinely safe condition — not just a passable appearance. Only proceed if you're confident in the fix.
Unresolvable hazard: Discard the toy in a way that prevents another child from accessing it (cut cords, break the toy down if possible before bagging).

Reporting a recalled toy found in a secondhand listing to the platform and to the CPSC takes only a few minutes and prevents other families from making the same purchase. It's a straightforward step worth taking.

Never Donate or Resell a Recalled Toy

Passing on a recalled toy — even with good intentions — transfers a known safety hazard to another family. Recalled toys should be rendered unusable before disposal. Check recalls.gov to see whether the manufacturer has a return or replacement program in place before discarding, as some recalls include compensation for consumers.

Why Used Toys Deserve a Structured Inspection

The Inspection Checklist

What to Do If a Toy Fails Inspection

Toys Editorial Team