Is It Safe to Buy Used Toys for Kids in India?

The short answer

Yes — for the vast majority of toys, buying preloved is completely safe and one of the smartest purchases a parent can make. Children outgrow toys fast, often barely using them, so the second hand market is full of items that are practically new. The key is a quick visual inspection before you buy and a wash before your child plays with it.

A small number of toys deserve more caution: very old items without safety marks, anything with small detachable parts for babies under 3, and electronic toys where you can't test the function. This guide walks through both sides.

Toys that are generally safe to buy used

These categories are low-risk and commonly bought preloved by Indian parents:

• Wooden toys — durable, easy to wipe clean, no battery concerns.
• Activity gyms and play mats — check the fabric for tears and the hanging toys for loose attachment.
• Board books and cloth books — wipe down hard covers, machine-wash soft ones.
• Puzzles and building blocks — count the pieces before buying to confirm the set is complete.
• Ride-on toys and tricycles — inspect wheels, handlebars and any seat straps.
• Outdoor toys like sandboxes and slides — check for cracks, splinters and rust.
• Branded complete sets — Lego, magnetic tiles, art sets — verify all pieces are present.

Toys that need a closer look

These don't necessarily need to be avoided, but deserve a more careful inspection:

• Electronic and battery-operated toys — test that all functions work, check the battery compartment for corrosion or leaks.
• Teething toys and anything that goes in a baby's mouth — inspect carefully for bite marks, cracks or torn surfaces that could harbour bacteria. Discard any with visible damage.
• Soft toys and stuffed animals — check seams, button eyes and any small attachments that could detach.
• Toys for babies under 12 months — any detachable part that fits through a 3.2 cm circle (the standard choke-hazard tube) is a risk.
• Toys without a safety mark — older items may predate current standards.

BIS certification and the ISI mark

Since January 2021, all toys sold in India must carry BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification under the IS 9873 series. Look for the ISI mark on the toy itself or its original packaging. For preloved toys bought from another parent, the original packaging may be gone — in that case, look for the mark moulded or printed on the toy body.

The ISI mark tells you the toy met India's safety standards at the time it was manufactured. It doesn't guarantee a preloved toy is still in perfect condition, which is why the physical inspection matters just as much.

A quick inspection checklist

• No cracks, sharp edges or broken pieces on hard plastic or wooden parts.
• No loose or detachable small parts for toys intended for under-3s.
• Soft toys: seams intact, no loose button eyes or ribbons.
• Electronic toys: all buttons and sounds work, no corrosion in the battery compartment.
• Complete set: all pieces present — ask the seller before buying.
• ISI / BIS mark visible on the toy or confirmed by the seller.

Cleaning before first use

Hard plastic and wooden toys can be wiped down with a mild soap solution and dried in sunlight. Soft toys should be machine-washed on a gentle cycle and dried completely before giving to a child — sunlight is a natural disinfectant. For electronic toys that can't be submerged, wipe surfaces with a lightly damp cloth and a child-safe disinfectant. Never give a toy to a child that is still damp or hasn't fully dried.

Buying safely on IPF

When you buy toys on IPF, your payment is held in escrow and only released to the seller after delivery and the inspection window. If a toy arrives not as described — missing pieces, undisclosed damage — you can raise an issue before your money is released. All transactions and agreements stay on the in-app chat as a record.