What Are the Most Dangerous Toys?
November is the kick-off for a good six weeks of gift shopping for consumers all over the world, as people prepare for a series of winter holidays that continue until we usher in the New Year.
This year, with more empty shelves in stores across the United States because of supply-chain problems from the ongoing pandemic, there have been many projections that toys will be in shorter supply than usual.
With scarce supplies, shoppers may cast a wider net to find gifts for the children in their lives, perhaps going to stores they normally would not patronize and looking for toys that they would not have considered last year. With that in mind, World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H.) has provided its annual list of the most dangerous toys on the market, to help shoppers make their decisions for this season.
It is important for consumers to know that being named as a nominee on the list of the 10 Worst Toys of 2021 does not mean the products will be pulled from retail shelves. In fact, dangerous toys are a continuous problem across the United States, where one child is treated in a hospital emergency room every three minutes for a toy-related injury.
Although hazards such as small parts in toys for young children, and suffocating risks for plush toys and pillows with infants, have been well established, W.A.T.C.H. noted that they continue to show up in new generations of toys.
W.A.T.C.H. researchers also noted that the ongoing pandemic and restrictions around it have forced many children to stay home for school for extended periods, sparking increased interest in outdoor activities, all of which may have contributed to a 39 percent spike in children being injured on wheeled toys such as hoverboards from March to September 2020 over the previous year.
To give an idea of some of the potential hazards the W.A.T.C.H. researchers found in the products, they demonstrated use of some of the toys at a November 17 press conference at Franciscan Children’s Hospital in Boston. Hazards such as toy weaponry that could injure the eyes and face; to small parts such as button batteries that could be ingested by small children and would cause chemical burns internally and, possibly, death, made the list.
W.A.T.C.H. Top 10 Most Dangerous Toys for 2021
Radio Flyer Spin N’ Saucer by Radio Flyer, Inc. Retails for $21.99; targeted to children aged 1.5 to five years. This saucer is unique because it provides 360 degrees of motion, giving the rider a spin while sliding. W.A.T.C.H. listed this toy as a hazard near any vehicles, sidewalks, or steep slopes.
My First Hoverboard by Hover-1. Retails for $94; targeted to children five years
and up. The hoverboard comes with packaging that warns users to obey local laws and maintain reasonable speeds, but it is targeted to five-year-olds.
NERF Hyper Rush-40 Blaster by Hasbro. Retails for $30.52; targeted to children 14 years and over. Users are cautioned not to aim for the eyes or face in the packaging on this product, which does come with plastic eyeglasses. However, the full facemask advertised on the packaging is sold separately. W.A.T.C.H. warns that this toy could result in eye and facial injuries.
Rollers Light-Up Heel Skates by Madd Gear LLC. Retails for $15.00; targeted to children six and up. These are designed to fit over a sneaker to turn it into a skate. The heel skates made the list because if used on wet surfaces or uneven roads, the child is likely to fall. Although the packaging warns of potential falls and advises users to wear safety equipment, the picture in front shows a child with no safety equipment using the skates.
Bright Starts Tummy Time Prop and Play by Kids2, Inc. Retails for $24.99; targeted to infants. Although the suffocating dangers for infants on plush toys and mats and pillows are well known, Bright Start Tummy Time offers a plush mat and pillow for babies to lie down for exercise. W.A.T.C.H. listed this as a suffocation hazard.
Learn to Play Drum by Hape, International. Retails for $27.99; targeted to children from one to five years. Because the drums come with small, 5-inch drumsticks that are thin and inflexible, W.A.T.C.H. researchers consider them a potential choking hazard for children who may mouth and possibly swallow a drumstick, blocking their airway.
Snake Eyes by G.I. Joe Origins Ninja Strike Sickles by Hasbro. Retails for $15.99; targeted to children five and over. Plastic blades are featured on this toy. W.A.T.C.H. lists it as a potential hazard for eye and facial injuries.
Perfectly Cute My Lil’ Baby Feed & Go Set by JAKKS Pacific, Inc. Retails for 14.99; targeted to youngsters two years and older. Small parts, including a baby bottle, could be ingested by children using this toy, which is targeted at toddlers.
Squeakee Minis Poppy the Bunny by MooseToys. Retails for $9.82; targeted to children five and over. Small button batteries in the rear compartment of this toy could be ingested by children. If ingested, the batteries would cause internal chemical burns and could lead to death.
My Life as Shopping Basket by Walmart. Retails for $8.97; targeted to children three years and over. The shopping basket containing small parts in the cart can create a choking hazard for small children, who may mouth the toys.
Piscataway Products Liability Lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr Can Help Families Hurt by Dangerous Toys
If your child was injured by a dangerous toy, reach out to the Piscataway products liability lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr. We will help you seek damages from anyone within the chain of distribution to seek justice for your family. Call us today at 877-249-4600 or 732-537-8570 or contact us online for a free consultation. Located in Highland Park, New Jersey, we serve clients in New Brunswick, Somerset, Piscataway, Edison, South River, Sayreville, Metuchen, East Brunswick, South Plainfield, Fords, Middlesex, Old Bridge, Iselin, Bound Brook, Perth Amboy, Colonia, Elizabeth, and Newark.
