How to Choose Safe Amigurumi Eyes for Children's Toys

Hello, fellow crochet lovers! Welcome to the Ayla Wan Gurumi blog. Today, we're focusing on one of the most sensitive topics for all of us: choosing safe eyes for our amigurumi toys intended for children. As we pour our love into every stitch, ensuring the safety of little ones must be our top priority, mustn't it? Especially considering young children's tendency to put toys in their mouths, the correct selection of small parts like eyes is vitally important.

Why Is Eye Selection So Important?

Amigurumi toys' eyes are one of their most charming and character-defining features. However, improperly chosen or poorly attached eyes can pose a serious choking hazard, particularly for children under 3 years old. Therefore, it's crucial to focus on safety from the outset, considering who you'll be gifting or selling your toys to.

Types of Safe Amigurumi Eyes

While many different types of eyes are available on the market, only a limited number are truly safe for children. Here are our most recommended and reliable options:

1. Safety Eyes

Safety eyes are one of the most popular choices in amigurumi making. Thanks to their special locking mechanism, when properly installed, they are not easily removed from the toy.

• How They Work: These eyes come with a threaded post on the back and a plastic washer that locks onto this post. The washer fits snugly over the post, securing the eye from behind the fabric.
• Advantages: Aesthetic appearance, wide range of sizes and colors, high security when properly installed.
• Considerations:
  • Quality: Always choose high-quality safety eyes from reputable brands. Inferior products can loosen over time.
  • Proper Installation: When attaching the eye, ensure you push the washer all the way down and that it's securely seated. Firmly placing the washer between the threads on the back of the eye provides a stronger hold.
  • Age Limit: Generally recommended for children aged 3 and up. They can still pose a potential risk for younger children, as the possibility of loosening due to excessive force or prolonged use cannot be entirely eliminated.

Tip: When inserting safety eyes, you can slightly enlarge the hole where the eye will sit using the tip of your crochet hook. You might need to apply some pressure for the washer to pass through easily; this is normal.

2. Embroidered Eyes

Embroidered eyes are arguably the safest option, especially for babies and young children under 3 years old. Since they contain no small parts that can detach from the toy, the choking risk is zero.

• How They're Made: You can embroider the eyes directly onto the toy in your desired shape and size using yarn. You can use various techniques such as French knots, satin stitch, or straight stitch.
• Advantages: 100% safe, soft texture, completely customizable, washable.
• Considerations:
  • Yarn Choice: Use strong, non-snapping yarns that do not contain harmful substances for children's health. A thin strand of the same yarn you use for amigurumi or embroidery floss is ideal.
  • Knot Security: After finishing the embroidery, ensure you tie several secure knots before hiding the yarn inside the toy. Tying tight knots and losing the excess yarn inside the toy is the best practice.

3. Felt or Fabric Eyes

You can also create cute eyes by cutting pieces of felt or fabric and sewing them onto the toy. This method is as safe as embroidered eyes, provided it's applied correctly.

• How They're Made: Cut felt or suitable fabric into the desired eye shape and attach it to the toy with sturdy stitches.
• Advantages: Soft, safe (when sewn), can be designed in various shapes.
• Considerations:
  • Do Not Use Glue: Absolutely do not use glue! Children can pick off or ingest glue. Always attach eyes with strong stitches.
  • Secure Edges: Use sturdy stitches to prevent felt edges from fraying over time.

Eye Types to Avoid

• Buttons and Beads: As cute as they may be, buttons and beads pose a very high choking risk for young children. No matter how securely sewn, there's always a chance they could loosen or come off over time. Please refrain from using these materials on toys for babies and young children.
• Anything Attached with Hot Glue or Adhesive: As mentioned above, adhesives are not safe for children's toys.

Age-Appropriate Eye Selection

• Babies 0-3 Years Old: For this age group, definitely choose embroidered eyes or very securely sewn felt/fabric eyes. Even safety eyes are not recommended for this age group.
• Children 3 Years and Older: Safety eyes, when properly installed, can be a suitable option for this age group. However, it's still a good idea to check them occasionally. Embroidered eyes remain a safe alternative for all ages.

Testing Eye Safety

After attaching the eyes, always perform a simple safety test before handing the toy over to little hands:

1. Pull Test: Grasp the eyes firmly with your fingers and try to pull them out. There should be no loosening or movement.
2. Squeeze Test: Squeeze the part of the toy around the eye. Check if the eye shows any tendency to pop out.

If you have any doubts, do not use that eye or consider an embroidered alternative.

Conclusion

Amigurumi making is not just about creativity; it's also about responsibility. Especially when crafting toys for children, we must prioritize safety above all else. By following the tips in this guide, you can continue to create loving toys that little ones can play with safely.

For more amigurumi tips and inspiration, don't forget to follow us on Instagram: @aylawangurumi. Happy safe crocheting!