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RANT: Lazy top 10 list of 2008's most dangerous toys

Every year some group you never heard of comes out with a top 10 list of dangerous toys. Usually that list is filled with products you never heard of, and never would buy anyway. I thought that some of the reasons these were bad toys were not quite accurate so I took a stab at them.

The original list comes from a group called W.A.T.C.H. which stands for World Against Toys Causing Harm, inc. Supposedly they have been around since 1973. Who knew?

Here's the list - my comments in Blue:

ANIMAL ALLEY PURSE PET

ANIMAL ALLEY PURSE PET
Price: $4.98
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Geoffrey Inc. /Toys R Us
 
Purchased: Toys R Us
 
Age Recommendation:"0+"
 
Warnings:“CAUTION: Remove all tags, twist ties and plastic loops before giving to a child” (on attached tag)

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR INGESTION/ASPIRATION INJURIES!
W.A.T.C.H. OUT!  This soft, colorful pony is sold for infants. The toy has long, fiber-like hair that is not adequately rooted and is easily removable, presenting the potential for ingestion or aspiration injuries. This hazard is not referenced anywhere on the product or product tags.

CollectionDX Says: The real danger here is that someone let these toys go to market. How horrendous are these? Sure, there is a legitimate concern with hair that is not adequately rooted. I like how the the criticism states "This hazard is not referenced anywhere on the product or product tags.". Yeah, like the factory is going to put a big "WE DID A SHITTY JOB ON THIS" sticker on the tag.

NINJA BATTLE GEAR - MICHELANGELO

NINJA BATTLE GEAR - MICHELANGELO
Price: $9.99
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Playmates Toys, Inc.
 
Purchased: Target
 
Age Recommendation: “Ages 4 and up”
 
Warnings: “WARNING: Choking Hazard-Contains small part, not suitable for children under 3 years”

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR BLUNT IMPACT INJURIES!
W.A.T.C.H. OUT!  4-year-old children are encouraged to play the part of a Ninja, while wielding various weapons. One such weapon is Michelangelo's “Nunchaku", which the manufacturer describes as a "Kick-butt signature weapon!" consisting of two long plastic handles connected by a plastic chain. Remarkably, there are no accompanying cautions or warnings relating to potential impact injuries.

CollectionDX Says: Here's a tip for parents - when buying fake weapons for kids, DON'T BE SUPRISED IF THEY HIT PEOPLE WITH THEM. Of course there are potential impact injuries, they are frickin Nunchakus! The toy says that these are for ages 4 and up. I don't know about you, but I have a 4-year old and guess what - he's going to hit people with things, wether you give him the toy weapons or not.

WALK’N SOUNDS DIGGER THE DOG

Walk’n Sounds Digger The Dog
Price: $9.99
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Hasbro/ Playskool
 
Purchased: Kmart
 
Age Recommendation: "Over 12 MONTHS"
 
Warnings: Cautions regarding batteries (on packaging)

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR STRANGULATION/ ENTANGLEMENT INJURIES!
W.A.T.C.H. OUT!  Despite the industry’s voluntary standard requiring strings on playpen or crib toys to be less than 12” in length, some manufacturers continue to market toys such as this “Digger The Dog” pull toy, with a cord measuring approximately 26 inches. Sold to be “your child’s best friend!”, it is intended for “infants” and thus, is a prime candidate for cribs and playpens.

 

CollectionDX Says: I can picture the little yellow noose hanging from the playpen mobile. Seriously though - W.A.T.C.H.'s logic is flawed. "Sold to be “your child’s best friend!”, it is intended for “infants” and thus, is a prime candidate for cribs and playpens." But the thing is, its not a crib toy. Nowhere does it state it is a crib toy. Its a toy you pull along the ground. Therefore, the cord can be as long as they want to make it. Parents, you have two options here - Keep long strings and things like that out of the crib, or cut the string if you are that paranoid (oh wait, you probably don't own scissors either - baby could get them)

 

PUCCI PUPPIES - MY OWN PUPPY HOUSE GOLDEN RETRIEVER

Pucci Puppies - My Own Puppy House Golden Retriever
Price: $14.99
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Battat, Incorporated
 
Purchased: Target
 
Age Recommendation: “2 years +”
 
Warnings: None

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR CHOKING INJURIES!
W.A.T.C.H. OUT!  Oral age children as young as 2 years old are encouraged to play with this plush, golden retriever puppy, sold with a dog house and accessories including a bone, cookie, chew toy and food bowl. These accessories are small parts that could easily be ingested by a child, presenting the potential for serious choking injuries.

 

CollectionDX Says: I've never heard of Battat Toys, but a visit to their website reveals the most garish warning about lead paint safety recalls. "Thou dost protest too much?" CDX knows that choking on toys is no laughing matter. Hell, our entire childhood was ruined because some kid in the 70's choked on a Battlestar Galactica missile. But seriously - this is probably some off-brand toy made in a sweatshop in China. Parents - use common sense when buying kids toys. If it looks cheap, it probably is for a reason.

 

MEADOW MYSTERY PLAY-A-SOUND BOOK WITH A CUDDLY POOH

Meadow Mystery Play-A-Sound Book With A Cuddly Pooh
Price: $9.97
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
 
Purchased: Walmart
 
Age Recommendation: “18 months+” (box) and “RECOMMENDED FOR ALL AGE GROUPS” (toy)
 
Warnings: “ CAUTION: Before giving to a child, please cut, remove, and discard all plastic attachments” (on package)

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR CHOKING INJURIES!
W.A.T.C.H. OUT!  This soft Winnie The Pooh doll is packaged and sold with a “Meadow Mystery” book. Pooh’s cloth mask, once removed, poses the potential for choking injuries. Despite the wording on the packaging and the book that the product has been safety tested for children “18 months+”, the tag attached to the plush toy indicates that it is “[r]ecommended for all age groups”.

 

CollectionDX Says: It doesn't take a scientist to figure this one out. "Despite the wording on the packaging and the book that the product has been safety tested for children “18 months+”, the tag attached to the plush toy indicates that it is “[r]ecommended for all age groups”." Clearly the stuffed animal was safety tested by some slave labor factory in China (hence the misspelling) and is fine for everyone, but everything else is fine for 18 months plus. My guess is that the doll was used in another toy and had its own safety test. Once again, teach your kids that if it is not food, don't put it in your mouth. Are you people even trying here? We have Nerf machine guns on the market and THIS is dangerous?

 

INFLATABLE GIGA BALL

Inflatable Giga Ball
Price: $49.99
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Kenscott, Ltd.
 
Purchased: Target
 
Age Recommendation:"AGES 4+"
 
Warnings: “WARNING: DO NOT USE ON HILLS AND IN WATER”(on box), and other warnings on toy and package insert

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR IMPACT AND OTHER SERIOUS INJURIES!
W.A.T.C.H. OUT!  Children as young as 4 years old are encouraged to “crawl inside” this colorful inflatable ball, in order to “spin, tumble, [and] bounce”. The box warns against using the ball on hills or near water, and notes that parental supervision is “required”. However, the toy itself indicates that adult supervision is only “recommended”, and the package insert further warns the ball is “[n]ot for pool side use or as a flotation device”.

 

CollectionDX Says: This toy isn't dangerous, this toy is AWESOME. Who would not want to replicate Jackie Chan's major stunt in Armor of God 2?

They say "The box warns against using the ball on hills or near water, and notes that parental supervision is “required”. However, the toy itself indicates that adult supervision is only “recommended"". Come on people, seriously? This is the reason that this is unsafe?

 

SPIDER-MAN ADJUSTABLE TOY SKATES

Spider-Man Adjustable Toy Skates
Price: $19.99
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Street Flyers, LLC
 
Purchased: Target
 
Age Recommendation: “Ages 3 To 6”
 
Warnings: “HELMETS, WRIST GUARDS, KNEE PADS AND ELBOW PADS SHOULD BE WORN WHILE SKATING”, and other warnings

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR WRIST AND OTHER IMPACT INJURIES!
W.A.T.C.H. OUT!  The packaging for these adjustable toy skates has numerous warnings, including the requirement that children wear helmets, wrist guards, knee pads and elbow pads while skating. Inexplicably, the safety gear sold with the toy includes only knee and elbow pads.

 

CollectionDX Says:This is the one that got me all riled up in the first place. If you read the above correctly, the main issue W.A.T.C.H. has is that the package of TOY SKATES has a warning that a helmet is required, but no helmet is included. That makes sense. I bet they get all bent out of shape when their toy that requires batteries does not include them. Or how about when their bowl of cereal does not come with orange juice and toast to make it a balanced breakfast. This is why I hate lists like this - they are just plain lazy.

 

SPORTSMAN SHOTGUN

SPORTSMAN SHOTGUN
Price: $29.99
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Parris Manufacturing Company
 
Purchased: Netlink Enterprises, Inc. (online)
 
Age Recommendation: “Not recommended for children under 3 years of age” and “AGE 14+”
 
Warnings: “Never aim or shoot at any animal”; “Do not aim at eyes or face”; and other warnings

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR EYE INJURIES!
W.A.T.C.H. OUT!  This realistic looking weapon is sold online as a “toy” for use by children. Once the rubber bullets are loaded into the shotgun’s magazine, and the ammunition is pushed into the gun’s chamber, “[y]ou are now ready to shoot”. This weapon is not a toy and should not be sold for use by children.

 

CollectionDX Says: If you visit the Netlink Enterprises, Inc. website, you will see that they sell Replica Guns, Swords, Mini Cannons, and.... the Wiggles? Yeah, ok they sell toys, but this isnt a toy, It's an Airsoft pellet gun. If its in the wrong section, its not the toys fault is it? Blame it on the crappy dated website. Oh, and I love the freeware Star Trek font on the menus. Great job guys.

 

EXTREME SPIRAL COPTERS

EXTREME SPIRAL COPTERS
Price: $3.00
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Toysmith Group
 
Purchased: Belmont Toys
 
Age Recommendation: “Ages 5 and Up”
 
Warnings: "CAUTION: DO NOT SHOOT AT PEOPLE OR ANIMALS”, and other cautions and warnings.

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR EYE INJURIES!
W.A.T.C.H. OUT!  These copters are described by the manufacturer as having “awesome spiral action!” Young children are encouraged to launch the projectile into the air with the provided elastic band, in a fashion similar to a slingshot. Cautions include: “DO NOT SUBSTITUTE THE SUPPLIED COPTER WITH ANY OTHER PROJECTILE”, and “DO NOT AIM AT EYES OR FACE”.

 

CollectionDX Says: Essentially, you have a problem with a rubber band here, because if your big concern is people putting things into it other than the copter, well, kids have been flinging shit with rubber bands since they were invented. Yeah, they theoretically could be dangerous if pointed at someone's eye, but so could crayons, and we don't see people freaking out over those, do we?

 

GO GO MINIS PULLBACK VEHICLE

Go Go Minis Pullback Vehicle
Price: $4.99
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Kid Galaxy, Inc.
 
Purchased: Calendar Club Go! Toys & Games
 
Age Recommendation:“Ages 3+” (on display box only)
 
Warnings: “WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD-Small Parts. Not For Children under 3-yrs on display package only

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR CHOKING INJURIES!
W.A.T.C.H. OUT!  These miniature fire trucks, garbage trucks and school buses are sold individually at the checkout counter in a display box. The rear tires of these vehicles are removeable, presenting the potential for a serious choking injury for oral age children. Incredibly, the “choking hazard” warning appears only on the display box, and not on the individual toys.

 

CollectionDX Says: Here's a thought - lets compile a top 10 list of dangerous toys from stores that nobody has ever heard of or shopped at. How about a real list, with toys people actually have a chance of coming across? How about taking major toy makers to task for putting out potentially dangerous products. Personally, I think it is lazy journalism to put out a list like this.

As for the actual toy - rubber tires are flexible, AND have holes in them. They are like lifesavers candy, only flexible. Just wait a few days and the kid will poop them out. The also mention that the “choking hazard” warning appears only on the display box, and not on the individual toys. Well, how about we change the school bus letters and put a big CHOKING HAZARD sign on the side. In fact, lets make them like cigatette packages, and have pictures of dead kids on the side of the vehicles.

 

Posted 18 November, 2008 - 15:40 by JoshB

Comments

3 comments posted
Oh my god dude,I almost spit

Oh my god dude,I almost spit out my coffee when I saw the nunchucks. Nunchucks or any other weapons associated with the art of ninjitsu may cause injury. Remember kids,knowing is half the battle!

kidnicky's picture
Posted by kidnicky on 18 November, 2008 - 16:32
Where is Irwin Mainway when

Where is Irwin Mainway when you need him, eh?

"This must be settled the way nature intended....with a vicious, bloody fight!"
Onyx Blackman
Principal, Flatpoint High

NekroDave's picture
Posted by NekroDave on 18 November, 2008 - 23:52
You're lazy too, as far as your research for this goes

Battat is a big-time company, responsible for such brands as Our Generation and Little Woodzees. They're also responsibe for manufacturing wooden trains that parents will actually buy, unlike the Thomas wooden trains (whose prices have become so licenseflated that Target stopped stocking them). Their products have plenty of shelf space at major retailers. And "Let the buyer beware" is not an appropriate response to parts on a baby toy sold at major retailers falling within the choke gate, although I doubt the parts in question actually do considering how thorough the regulators are about that one.

ZeldaTheSwordsman's picture
Posted by ZeldaTheSwordsman on 29 June, 2015 - 15:50