Filled with shining rings and jingling, colorful keys and keychains, any youngster is bound to want to get their hands on the keys you carry with you. No matter how persistent those little hands may be or how fascinated those little eyes get, it is important that you keep your set of keys away from small children. In fact, it is best to keep them out of sight and out of mind as much as possible. Check out these important reasons why you should keep keys away from small children at all times.

Some keys may contain lead.

Exposure to lead can be a really big concern for little ones because their small bodies are not equipped to handle high levels of this toxin. Unfortunately, many well-meaning parents or caregivers hand over their set of keys to occupy a little one and later have to deal with lead poisoning because of it. Even though not all keys contain lead, some do, so you must be sure your little one does not get their hands on your keys, especially if they are at an age when they like to put things in their mouth.

Replacement keys can be a lot more expensive than they used to be.

Even though some keys are still simple to replace because they are basically just made of precisely cut metal, there are some modern keys that are really technical. For example, some modern house keys contain a microchip that is detected when you insert the key so the door can be unlocked. Because modern keys are much more technologically advanced, they can also be a lot more expensive to have replaced. Even something as simple as a replacement car key for a Prius could cost you like $600, according to Consumer Reports. So if your little one takes off with the keys and they magically vanish, you could be facing a hefty replacement cost. For more information, contact a business such as Bilco Safe & Lock, Inc.

Keys, keychains, and their parts pose a choking hazard for little ones.

Because keys and keychains are not designed to be safe for children to play with, they can have all kinds of small parts that detach or come apart. This also means that these parts and components can be a major choking hazard for a curious little one who can probably figure out how to take something apart and get it in their mouth if they are determined to do so.

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