Popular toys with surprising safety issues
Let’s be honest, toys basically defined our childhood. From your favorite doll that you never slept without to your Lego blocks, kids were in a completely blissful state when they were around their toys.
But, looking back, some of them were actually pretty dangerous. While many of us got lucky by not getting hurt hurling around our toys, some people just weren’t that fortunate. This article dives into the most dangerous toys of all time and dissects what made them so harmful. It’ll make you scratch your head, and honestly, give you a little sense of nostalgia too.
Clackers
If you didn’t almost knock yourself out with a clacker, did you really have a childhood? Those things were taken off the market with haste because they were a major safety hazard.
The balls were made from acrylic which would break VERY easily. Tiny shards would fly everywhere, including at your face.
Toy Crossbows
Another day, another really fun looking toy that also looks extremely dangerous. Projectile launchers have historically caused problems and it’s easy to see why.
China recently had to crack down on toothpick crossbows because, well, they’re literally firing toothpicks. I don’t know if you’ve felt the end of one but they’re sharp.
Snacktime Cabbage Patch Kids
Cabbage Patch Kids were a must-have for any kid back in the day. But that was before the toy started trying to eat fingers. The Snacktime edition had a mechanical jaw that was to chomp down on food when you fed them.
But, the doll couldn’t tell whether it was a finger or food, so it ate both. They had to recall the toy after many finger injuries.
CSI Kit
The CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit allowed for kids to channel their inner investigator. But, like a real life investigator, it was pretty dangerous.
The kit came with a special fingerprinting powder. The powder in question turned out to contain five percent asbestos. Instead of waiting for a recall, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization filed a civil action to stop the sale.
Buckyballs
This toy was never marketed toward children, but many still got their hands on it. The popular Buckyballs were forced to be recalled in 2012 after over 1,500 kids visited the ER when they ingested the magnets.
I don’t know how much “unlimited fun” you’re going to have in the hospital, but to each their own.
Slip N’ Slide
But, but, how? Don’t do this to me. Most slip N’slides are made for kids, but that’s never stopped the adults who think they’re kids. The problem is that the added weight and height only add to the acceleration, which can lead to spinal cord injuries.
The company that made them had to recall nine million in 1999 after adults and teens were getting hurt left, right, and center.
Easy Bake Oven
Honestly, I’m not going to lie — the Easy Bake Oven was probably my favorite toy as a youngster. Being able to cook your own pastries was a gift that kept on giving.
Unfortunately, they’re pretty dangerous. Several kids were burned after getting their fingers caught in the appliance. The company has released a new electric oven that’s much safer now.
Barbie And Tanner
Let me get this out of the way and just state for a fact that ALL of us have had a Barbie in our lives at one point or another. But, this 2007 set that looked to promote pet ownership didn’t check all of the safety boxes.
The magnet in the dog would often come loose and if a kid decided to eat it, there could be some harm done.
Atomic Laboratory Kits
This lab kit from the 60’s actually contained four types of uranium ore. No, I’m not kidding. They should probably call this the Chernobyl Kit because that’s how dangerous it could be.
Science-based kits are still very popular today, but I just think they’re a little less nuclear. I could be wrong, though.
Water Beads
Water beads are small plastic balls that expand in water. Originally, they were used for crafts or floral centerpieces, but soon companies began adding them to kids’ play kits, which was a big mistake. One product that issued a recall over water beads was the Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kit sold at Target in the 2020s. After reports of children ingesting the beads, the toys were removed from shelves, and parents were urged to throw the product away or return it for a refund.
Nowadays, child safety advocates stress the importance of keeping any water bead product or toy out of homes with young children because of the serious health problems they can cause.
Fidget Spinners
Oh man, where do I even begin with fidget spinners? They were the toy of 2017 and honestly, I still don’t understand it.
But, the plastic spinner posed as a huge choking hazard. If one of the parts broke off, they could harm a small child if they put it in their mouth.
Trampolines
It shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise that trampolines are on this list. They’re incredibly popular and, let’s face it, incredibly fun.
These bounce pads send about 90,000 people to the hospital EVERY YEAR. I think it’s safe to say that they might be the most dangerous toy of all time.
Mini Hammocks
Honestly, who hasn’t laid in one of these? Hammocks are incredibly relaxing. They’re mildly scary, but also relaxing. The idea that an uneven weight transfer to any side could send you spinning to the ground is a little uneasy.
In 1996, there was a recall of three million mini hammocks after 12 deaths to children.
Baby Inflatables
Aqua Leisure had a variety of Baby Boat products which were geared towards allowing babies to float around. It sounds like a time full of fun, but the boat’s leg straps were prone to breaking.
That would allow the baby to slide through. Four million boats were recalled after nearly 30 infants almost drown.
Hoverboards
It was perhaps the most popular toy to have back in 2015. If you didn’t get one of these for Christmas or your birthday that year, you knew someone who did.
But, there was a dangerous flaw that ended up killing a three-year-old. Some boards tended to burst into flames, which is what happened with the tragic passing of a little kid after it parked a house fire.
Austin Magic Pistol
I mean, how can we forget about miniguns? The two most dangerous miniguns happened to be created in the 50s (not all that surprising).
The Austin Magic Pistol used “magic crystals”— which was actually calcium carbide — to launch ping pong balls. But, if any water got into the gun it would literally explode. Not fun.
Hannah Montana Pop Star Card Game
After arsenic, lead is the second most deadly household toxin around. It’s recommended that a toy have no more than 40 parts per million of lead.
Well, tell that to the makers of the Hannah Montana game. It contained 75 times that amount — 3000 parts per million. It didn’t have to get recalled because the lead was found in its vinyl and not the paint.
Lawn Darts
If you thought that weighted spikes that fly through the sky were slightly dangerous, you’re probably right. While it’s advertised as a fun, family game, it can be anything but.
There were three fatalities in the 70s and 80s and another 6,000 hospital visits. They were banned for good in 1988. Yikes.
Aqua Dots
I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to understand that GHB and kids toys probably shouldn’t be mixed. But, Aqua Dots did just that.
GHB is a drug that makes you black out with no recollection of anything. Three children went into comas after swallowing the toxic pieces. They ended up recalling 4.2 million kits.
Magnetix
These are a popular building set from the 2000s. Like is inferred in the name, there are magnets incorporated into this toy.
In 2007, one kid ended up dying after swallowing the magnets while 28 others suffered serious injuries. They had to recall 4 million kits after those incidents. They have rebranded and made their product safer since.
Sky Dancers
Having to recall almost nine million of your products from stores is never a fun thing to do. But, that’s exactly what Galoob Toys Inc had to do with the Sky Dancers.
These flying fairies are more dangerous than they appear. There were more than 150 eye injuries and other facial cuts after a cord was pulled which launched the toy into the air.
Orb Funkee Monkee
In the 2020s, squishy fidget toys became quite popular, especially with the viral success of Nee-Doh toys. In any other decade, these toys would have been considered “stress balls” but that’s the power of marketing for you.
One company known for its squishy toys and slime, Orb, was forced to issue a recall for certain toys under its “Funkee Monkee” lines. As it turned out, the toy’s squishy filling contained asbestos, which is extremely harmful if inhaled or ingested.
Bunchems
Bunchems were small spiky balls that stuck together with the intention of allowing children to make their own creative projects. However, angry parents quickly turned to social media to express their outrage when it was discovered that Bunchems not only stuck to each other, but to children’s hair as well. After numerous viral posts showing the toys stuck in kids’ hair, the toy’s company, Spin Master, discontinued production.
Kent Kickin’ Mini Scooters
Mini scooters were hugely popular in the early 2000s and even rivaled the popularity of skateboards for a while. However, Kent Kickin’ Mini Scooters were recalled because the handle could become dislodged while riding, leading to broken bones, chipped teeth, bruises, and other injuries related to falls. Of course, scooters are still around today and remain popular, but they have more enhanced safety features to prevent severe injuries.
Mattel’s Thingmaker And Creepy Crawlers
Mattel’s original 1960s Thingmaker and Creepy Crawlers were boys’ answer to Easy-Bake Ovens. Instead of baking up delicious treats, kids were encouraged to make spiders, snakes, bugs, and other gross things with their lab. The toys were banned after numerous reports of children burning themselves on the toy’s heating element and metal molds. The Plasti-Goop also emitted toxic fumes that were harmful when inhaled.
In the 1990s, Mattel relaunched the toy with improved safety features, calling it the Thingmaker Creepy Crawlers Workshop.
Polly Pocket Toys
Polly Pocket toys have been around for decades now, so it’s surprising to hear that the toy was once considered dangerous. In the 2000s, several dolls and playsets had to be recalled and discontinued after it was reported that the toy’s magnetic components had been swallowed by several children.
Poo-Dough
We’ve all heard of Play-Doh, but what about Poo-Dough? If it sounds disgusting, that’s because it is. This prank toy is essentially brown modeling clay with added fragrances (we’ll let you imagine what it smelled like). The toy was never officially banned or discontinued, but was identified as one of the world’s most dangerous toys by World Against Toys Causing Harm, an advocacy group that informs parents. According to the organization, Poo-Dough is made with wheat and could cause severe allergic reactions.
Jurassic World Velociraptor Claws
With the revival of the Jurassic Park franchise in the 2010s-2020s came lots of new dinosaur-themed toys for kids. One toy made headlines when it was identified as dangerous. The Jurassic World Velociraptor Claws made by Hasbro were singled out for their potential to cause severe eye or facial injuries. The plastic claws were designed to be worn on children’s hands and made from a rigid plastic.
The toy was never officially recalled or banned, but negative press attention made parents wary of buying it.
Flicker ‘n Flash Rollerblade Barbie
Over the years, Barbie has pursued a wide variety of hobbies, interests, and careers. One of those activities was rollerblading in the 1990s. Mattel advertised the Flicker ‘n Flash Rollerblade Barbie as having rollerblades “that really sparked,” thanks to a mechanism similar to a lighter embedded in the toy. The doll lived up to its promises a little too well. After reports of fires starting once the sparks came in contact with flammable materials, the doll was quickly recalled.
Pogo Bals
Pogo Bals were part of the 1980s athletic toy fad for kids, along with Skip-Hops and Moon Shoes. They were a popular playground and neighborhood toy, but as you can imagine, kids hurt themselves a lot while using them. The idea was for kids to stand on the toy’s plastic platform, hold the ball with their feet, and jump, sort of like a pogo stick. The toy was never officially banned, but lost popularity because of the high potential for injuries.
