Design Topic: How Do You Design Children’s Toys?

Dear users, dear authors,
I’m well aware that the sale of finished toys is subject to strict regulations, but this thread is solely about the design and development of patterns for toys.

How do you go about it? What factors are important? What do you need to keep in mind?
Let me know.

You can also expand this topic to include dolls, animals, and amigurumi. :-)

I often start by making a rough sketch of what the figure should look like. Sometimes, though, I just start crocheting and take notes as I go.
The following factors should always be kept in mind:
First of all, the material is important. It shouldn’t be wool that sheds too much, because small children might suck on it or chew it.
Cotton, for example, is durable but not really cuddly.
Acrylic yarn is also suitable and, unlike wool, minimizes the risk of allergies. Being saliva-resistant is a plus.
The figure should be easy for the child’s age group to handle and, for small children, consist of as few individual parts as possible.
You should therefore avoid using stick-on eyes, safety eyes, beads, buttons, and other small parts.
Sewn-on or embroidered eyes are definitely better in this case.
The individual parts must be sewn on very securely, and all loose ends must be neatly woven in!
In addition—and not just for aesthetic reasons—you should crochet as tightly as possible to prevent holes from forming where the stuffing might peek out.
That’s all I can think of for now.

First, I put the idea down on paper. I try to think through various details. I sketch it out for myself.
I figure out which colors of yarn I’ll need—whether I already have them or need to get them.
Then I start working on my project.