Toy Safety & Suitability Policy
Soft Toy Sanctuary
At Soft Toy Sanctuary, the safety and suitability of every rescued soft toy is very important to us.
As our toys are previously loved, some may show signs of age, wear, or missing original manufacturer information. We take care to assess each item before it is listed for adoption and provide clear information about its condition.
1. Safety Standards & Labels
Many of the soft toys we rehome were originally manufactured to UK and/or EU safety standards and may include a CE label. CE marking continues to be recognised in Great Britain for many toys. UKCA marking is also used for newer products.
However, due to the age and nature of rescued items, some toys may:
-
no longer have a visible safety label
-
have worn or unreadable labels
-
have been manufactured before modern labelling standards existed
Where a toy does not have a clear CE or UKCA label, we treat it as a collector’s or display item and it will not be recommended for young children.
This will always be clearly stated on the individual adoption listing.
2. Suitability for Children
We carefully assess each soft toy and provide clear guidance on suitability.
-
Toys suitable for child play will be listed as such on their adoption page
-
Toys that are fragile, worn, or missing safety labels will be listed as collector, display, or retired residents
-
These items are intended for collecting, display, or supervised use only and not for unsupervised child play
We do not provide guarantees of safety, and we recommend that all toys are checked regularly for signs of wear and tear over time.
3. Condition Checks
Every soft toy is inspected before being listed for adoption.
We check for:
-
loose seams or stitching
-
missing parts or accessories
-
damage or wear that could affect suitability
-
general structural condition
Where a toy is not suitable for child play, this will always be clearly stated.
4. Retired Residents (Collector Items)
Some of our soft toys are too fragile or worn for regular play.
These are lovingly rehomed as Retired Residents, intended for:
-
adult collectors
-
display purposes
-
sentimental keepsakes
These items will always be clearly described as not suitable for child play.
5. General Toy Safety Guidance
As with all soft toys (even brand new ones), we recommend:
-
supervising young children during play
-
regularly checking toys for wear or damage
-
removing any toy that becomes loose, torn, or unsafe over time
For safety reasons, health professionals also advise that babies under 12 months old should not sleep with soft toys due to suffocation risks.
6. Pop-Up Shops & Social Media Sales
When selling through pop-up events, early previews, or social media:
-
we take extra care to ensure toys are clearly labelled with suitability information
-
any safety warnings provided by original manufacturers will be included where available
-
toys not suitable for child play will still be clearly identified as collector or display items
7. Responsibility
While we carefully inspect every soft toy before adoption, all items are second-hand and previously loved. Normal wear and age-related deterioration may occur over time.
By adopting from Soft Toy Sanctuary, customers acknowledge that responsibility for ongoing care and safe use of the toy lies with the adopter.
8. Contact Us
If you have any questions about a specific soft toy or its suitability, please contact us: