Why Safety Eyes Are Not Actually Safe

We all love how safety eyes can bring your amigurumi to life. 

But what many crafters might not realise is that those seemingly harmless pieces of plastic can pose a serious choking hazard to young children under 3 years old.

• Small Parts: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) https://www.cpsc.gov/ emphasises the dangers of small parts for children under 3. Young kids under 3 years old tend to explore the world by putting things in their mouths, and a dislodged safety eye can easily become a choking hazard. In Australia and NZ, see AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2023. 
• Potential to Break: While plastic safety eyes are designed to stay secure, they’re not indestructible. Rough play or teething can cause them to crack or break, creating even smaller pieces. Burning the backs (like some crafters have done on social media) can cause the plastic to become brittle and breakable. Altering a product also voids any potential warranty. 
• Loose Stitches: Over time, crochet stitches can loosen up. Even if you think the back can’t come loose, the entire eye and washer can be worked free from the face (especially if a child has been chewing on the area).

• Embroider eyes directly onto your creation: This method eliminates the choking hazard altogether. Lots of crafters offer tutorials on various embroidered eye designs on their websites and YouTube channels.
• Use felt or fabric: Cut out eye shapes from felt or fabric and securely sew / glue them onto your amigurumi. This eliminates the plastic risk, but you must ensure the felt is secured and won’t also become a choking hazard. 
• Crocheted eyes: There are lots of crochet patterns for different eyes available from talented designers. Use a search engine like Google, Pinterest, or YouTube to find tutorials or create your own. 

Remember, a few simple adjustments can make a world of difference in keeping playtime safe for children and worry-free for parents.