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 |
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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!
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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.
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NINJA BATTLE GEAR - MICHELANGELO |
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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!
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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. |
WALK’N SOUNDS DIGGER THE DOG |
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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!
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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. |
PUCCI PUPPIES - MY OWN PUPPY HOUSE GOLDEN RETRIEVER |
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Price: $14.99
Manufacturer or Distributor: Battat, Incorporated
Purchased: Target
Age Recommendation: “2 years +”
Warnings: None
HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR CHOKING INJURIES!
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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. |
MEADOW MYSTERY PLAY-A-SOUND BOOK WITH A CUDDLY POOH |
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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!
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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”. |
INFLATABLE GIGA BALL |
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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!
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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 |
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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!
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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. |
SPORTSMAN SHOTGUN |
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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!
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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. |
EXTREME SPIRAL COPTERS |
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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!
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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”. |
GO GO MINIS PULLBACK VEHICLE |
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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!
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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 |
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Comments
3 comments postedOh 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!
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
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.