Product safety
How we think about age and safety
A lot of what we sell — shoe charms, bag charms, keychains — sits in a category Health Canada treats as children's jewellery, not just toys, because they're worn on the body. That means we hold every charm we stock to both the toy rules and the jewellery rules, and it's why we ask every charm supplier for test documentation against Canada's limits for lead, cadmium and phthalates before we list a product.
None of this is a substitute for reading the specific age note on the product page in front of you, or for an adult's own judgment about a specific child. It's the general approach behind every listing on this site.
The rule that matters most
Small parts are not for children under 3
Charms, pins, blind-box contents and small squishy toys can contain pieces small enough to be a choking hazard for a child under three. This isn't a label we're required to add — Health Canada's own guidance says age labelling on toys is encouraged, not mandatory — but we add it anyway on every product where it's relevant, because nobody else in this category consistently does.
If a product has a specific age note on its page, that note is based on Health Canada's small-parts test, not a guess.
By product type
Age guidance at a glance
| Product | What to know |
|---|---|
| Shoe & bag charms | Contain small, detachable pieces. Not recommended for children under 3. |
| Enamel pins | The pin back is sharp and a small part. Keep away from children under 3 and supervise older children who are handling one. |
| Squishy toys | Larger squishy toys are generally fine for supervised play; smaller ones can be a small-parts risk for under-3s. We do not stock any liquid-, gel- or water-bead-filled squishy toy, at any age grade. |
| Blind box & mystery items | Contain small parts by nature of what's inside. Not recommended for children under 3, and we never fill a mystery item with liquid, gel or water beads. |
| Bags, pouches & lanyards | No small-parts concern for the item itself; check any attached charm or clip separately. |
Always check the age note on the specific product page — it reflects that item's actual size and construction, and takes precedence over this general table.
What we won't stock
A short, firm list
- No liquid-, gel- or water-bead-filled squishy toys, ever. Health Canada has warned that water beads can pose life-threatening risks if swallowed, and we're not willing to carry the risk to save a listing.
- No accessible button-cell battery compartments on anything aimed at children.
- No licensed characters we can't source with proper documentation — a cute knockoff isn't worth the risk to you or the exposure to us.
If something goes wrong
What to do, and what we do
If you're ever concerned that a child has swallowed or choked on part of something you bought from us, treat it as you would any other choking hazard — seek medical attention promptly. Don't wait to hear back from us first.
Once you tell us, we take it seriously on our end too. Product safety incidents get reported to the product's manufacturer and, where the law requires it, to Health Canada, and we pull the product from sale while it's looked into.
Questions
Safety, in detail
Are your products independently tested?
We require test documentation from our suppliers against Canada's limits for lead, cadmium and phthalates in children's products before we list a charm or squishy toy. We don't run our own lab testing, and we won't claim a certification we don't hold.
Is age labelling required by law in Canada?
No — Health Canada's Toys Regulations encourage age labelling but don't require it. We add it anyway, on every product where a genuine age consideration applies.
Why don't you sell water-bead or liquid-filled squishy toys?
Health Canada issued an advisory that water beads can continue expanding inside the body if swallowed, with life-threatening results in rare cases. We decided it isn't worth stocking that risk, regardless of how popular the product is elsewhere.
How do I report a safety concern about something I bought here?
Message us through the support hub with your order number and what happened. We treat every report seriously and follow up in writing.
Do charms count as jewellery or toys?
Under Health Canada's rules, a product that could reasonably be used either as a toy or worn as jewellery has to meet the requirements for both. Most of our charms fall into that overlap, which is part of why we're careful about what we stock.