15 Toys Parents Considered Dangerous
Here's a list of 15 real toys that were once popular but later considered dangerous due to injuries, recalls, or serious safety hazards.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Over the years, many toys marketed as fun and exciting turned out to be far riskier than expected. From radioactive science kits to dolls that sparked fires, parents have raised alarms and regulators have issued recalls to protect children. This list highlights some of the most notorious toys that show how entertainment and danger often went hand in hand.
1. Lawn Darts (Jarts)
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Lawn darts were a popular outdoor game in the 1970s and 1980s, but they quickly earned a reputation for being hazardous. The darts were heavy with sharp metal tips that could pierce skin and even skulls. After reports of severe injuries and fatalities, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned them in 1988.
2. Easy-Bake Oven
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The Easy-Bake Oven seemed harmless with its small light bulb-powered design, but it posed serious risks. Children got their fingers stuck inside the oven slots, leading to severe burns. In 2007, Hasbro recalled nearly one million units after over 70 reported injuries.
3. Aqua Dots
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Marketed as a fun craft toy, Aqua Dots contained beads that children could arrange and spray with water to fuse together. However, it was discovered that the coating on the beads metabolized into GHB, the “date rape” drug, when ingested. This led to multiple cases of child hospitalizations and a worldwide recall in 2007.
4. Slip ’N Slide
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Slip ’N Slide was a classic summer toy that let kids race across a wet plastic sheet. Unfortunately, the toy was not designed for teenagers or adults, yet many used it anyway, resulting in spinal cord injuries and paralysis. The CPSC warned against adult use after multiple accidents.
5. Sky Dancers
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These fairy-like dolls launched into the air when kids pulled a cord, spinning unpredictably around the room. While enchanting to watch, they often smacked children in the face, causing eye injuries and broken teeth. Over 150 reports of harm led to a massive recall in 2000.
6. Magnetix
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Magnetix building sets were designed for kids to create shapes and structures using magnets and rods. However, if swallowed, the powerful magnets could attract inside the digestive tract, causing life-threatening blockages and tears. Several serious injuries and one death prompted recalls in 2006.
7. Battlestar Galactica Missile-Firing Toys
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In the late 1970s, Mattel released a line of Battlestar Galactica toys with spring-loaded missiles. Parents soon raised alarms after reports of children choking when the small plastic missiles were accidentally inhaled. The toy’s design was altered, but the scare left a lasting mark on toy safety.
8. Clackers
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Clackers were acrylic balls attached to strings that kids swung up and down until they clashed together. The danger came when the balls shattered, sending sharp shards flying through the air. Eye injuries and cuts became so common that they were pulled from many markets in the 1970s.
9. CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit
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This toy tied in with the CSI TV franchise and allowed kids to dust for fingerprints. The problem was that the powder contained up to 7% asbestos, a known carcinogen. The product was quickly recalled after lawsuits and parental outrage.
10. Moon Shoes
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Moon Shoes were mini-trampolines strapped to kids’ feet, promising the thrill of bouncing with every step. While fun in theory, the shoes caused countless ankle sprains, twisted knees, and falls. Many parents considered them too unsafe for everyday play.
11. Hoverboards
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The hoverboard craze of the mid-2010s swept through households as kids zipped around on self-balancing scooters. However, defective lithium-ion batteries caused hundreds of units to overheat and burst into flames. Between burns, fractures from falls, and house fires, hoverboards were widely recalled.
12. Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab
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Released in the 1950s, this toy lab kit astonishingly contained real radioactive materials, including uranium ore samples. Marketed as educational, it let kids perform nuclear experiments at home. Though no major injuries were reported, parents quickly questioned the wisdom of giving children radiation to play with.
13. Skip-It
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Skip-It was a spinning ankle toy that encouraged kids to jump over a rotating ball attached to their leg. While it boosted coordination, it also led to twisted ankles, shin bruises, and scrapes from tripping. Parents often banned it after one too many injuries.
14. Trampolines
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Though not a single toy, trampolines have long been a staple of backyard fun and a source of controversy among parents. They cause tens of thousands of injuries each year, including broken bones, concussions, and spinal damage. Despite safety nets and padding, many families still consider them too dangerous.
15. Rollerblade Barbie
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This 1991 Barbie doll came with rollerblades that actually shot sparks when rolled across hard surfaces. While the feature seemed cool, it risked starting small fires and burning children’s skin. Parents quickly labeled it one of the least safe dolls ever made.