10 Toys That Should Have Come With Warnings
These 10 toys may have been marketed as fun, but they had hidden dangers that could turn playtime into a trip to the ER.
- Chris Graciano
- 2 min read
Childhood toys are supposed to bring joy, but some have a notorious history of causing injuries or worse. These products looked harmless until kids started getting hurt. This list revisits toys that were more hazardous than they appeared.
1. Lawn Darts (Jarts)
/dave/null on Wikimedia Commons
Marketed as a fun backyard game, these heavy metal-tipped darts caused countless injuries. Several fatalities led to a nationwide ban in 1988.
2. Easy-Bake Oven (2007 Recall)
Rachel on Flickr
The iconic toy oven was recalled after children suffered severe burns. A design flaw allowed tiny fingers to get stuck near the heating element.
3. Aqua Dots
soumit on Flickr
These colorful beads released a toxic chemical when ingested that metabolized into a date-rape drug. Dozens of children were hospitalized before the toy was pulled from shelves.
4. Slip ‘N Slide
wsilver on Flickr
While fun for kids, adults who used it risked serious spinal injuries due to the toy’s design. The Consumer Product Safety Commission warned against grown-up use after multiple accidents.
5. Magnetix Building Sets
Windell Oskay on Flickr
The small, powerful magnets could come loose and be swallowed, leading to life-threatening intestinal injuries. Several cases required emergency surgery.
6. Sky Dancers
Mike Mozart on Flickr
These flying dolls launched unpredictably into faces, eyes, and furniture. Hundreds of injury reports poured in before they were recalled.
7. CSI: Fingerprint Examination Kit
cottonbro studio on Pexels
This toy, based on the hit TV show, contained asbestos in its fingerprint powder. Parents were shocked that a children’s kit had such a toxic substance.
8. Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab
Atomicdragon136 on Wikimedia Commons
Sold in the 1950s, this “educational” kit included real radioactive materials. While marketed as safe, it exposed children to dangerous radiation levels.
9. Hoverboards (Early Models)
cottonbro studio on Pexels
The trendy self-balancing boards often overheated and caught fire. Reports of burns and property damage skyrocketed. Safety standards were tightened after widespread recalls.
10. Clackers
AntaraTV on Wikimedia Commons
Two hard acrylic balls on strings were meant to clack together, but they often shattered mid-swing. Shards could fly into eyes or skin at high speed.