14 Toys That Got Recalled for Good Reason
Here's a look at real toys that were recalled after causing harm, injury, or posing serious safety risks to children.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Not all toys are fun and games — some turn out to be hazardous in shocking ways. From toxic chemicals and dangerous magnets to sharp projectiles and burn risks, these 14 recalled toys highlight serious oversights in design and testing. Parents, manufacturers, and regulators have learned the hard way that safety must always come before play.
1. Aqua Dots (2007)
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Aqua Dots were colorful beads that fused with water to create designs, but they contained a chemical that turned into GHB, the “date rape” drug, when ingested. Several children fell unconscious after swallowing the beads. The product was recalled globally, with over 4 million units pulled from shelves.
2. Magnetix Building Sets (2006)
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These magnetic toys seemed harmless until tiny magnets started falling out and were swallowed by children. When more than one magnet was ingested, they attracted each other through the intestinal walls, causing serious injuries. One child died, prompting a massive recall and a wave of stricter toy regulations.
3. Fisher-Price Rock ’n Play Sleeper (2019)
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Marketed as a safe sleep solution for infants, this sleeper was linked to over 30 infant deaths due to suffocation. Pediatricians criticized the product for encouraging unsafe sleep positions. Fisher-Price recalled 4.7 million units under pressure from health experts and regulators.
4. Snack Time Cabbage Patch Dolls (1996)
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These dolls were programmed to “eat” plastic snacks using motorized jaws that didn’t stop. The problem was that they also munched on children’s hair and fingers. After several injuries and complaints, Mattel issued a recall and discontinued the doll entirely.
5. Sky Dancers (2000)
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These whimsical spinning dolls launched into the air and were meant to twirl gracefully back down. Instead, many of them veered off wildly, hitting kids in the face and causing eye injuries, broken teeth, and facial cuts. Over 8 million toys were recalled after nearly 150 injury reports.
6. Easy-Bake Oven (2007)
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This classic toy had a faulty design that allowed children to get their fingers stuck in the oven’s opening. Over 250 reports of burns and trapped fingers came in, including one case where a child required a partial finger amputation. Hasbro recalled nearly 1 million units.
7. Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper (1978)
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This toy spaceship came with a spring-loaded missile that could shoot across the room. One tragic incident involved a child choking to death after inhaling the projectile. Mattel was forced to redesign the toy and introduce non-detachable missiles.
8. Lawn Darts (Banned in 1988)
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Originally marketed as a backyard game, these heavy, sharp darts caused several serious head injuries. Three children were killed by lawn darts before the U.S. government stepped in. They were permanently banned for sale after mounting public pressure.
9. Hasbro’s Super Soaker CPS (2001)
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This powerful water gun could shoot streams at high pressure and distance. It was recalled after reports of the nozzle bursting and causing facial lacerations. About 230,000 units were pulled from store shelves.
10. Fisher-Price Little People (1991)
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The original version of these figures was cylindrical and just the right size to pose a choking hazard. After multiple reports of children putting them in their mouths and choking, Fisher-Price redesigned the figures with wider bases. The older versions were voluntarily recalled.
11. Jarts (1980s)
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Like lawn darts, these were metal-tipped projectiles meant for outdoor games. They were involved in over 6,000 emergency room visits and several deaths. The Consumer Product Safety Commission banned them outright due to the extreme risks.
12. Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Toys (2007)
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Several toy trains and accessories were coated with lead-based paint, a serious health hazard for children. Nearly 1.5 million items were recalled by RC2 Corp. The scandal rocked parents’ trust in even classic toy brands.
13. Skip-It (1990s version)
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This ankle-powered toy spun around as children jumped over it, but early versions caused frequent ankle injuries. Some kids tripped and fell hard while playing. Though it was never fully recalled, many models were quietly pulled from circulation and redesigned.
14. Hoverboards (2015–2016)
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Touted as the next big thing in tech toys, hoverboards quickly turned into a fiery nightmare. Hundreds of incidents of overheating, exploding batteries, and house fires led to recalls across multiple brands. Major retailers pulled them from shelves until safety standards were revised.