20 Toys From the ’90s That Would Be Banned Today
Here's a nostalgic look at 20 popular but dangerously flawed ’90s toys that would never meet today’s safety standards.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
The 1990s were filled with toys that thrilled kids but left parents and safety regulators horrified. From dolls that chewed children’s fingers to roller skates without brakes, many of these products were later recalled or quietly disappeared from store shelves. Looking back, they highlight how much stricter safety regulations and consumer awareness have become in the toy industry today.
1. Sky Dancers
Image from Wikipedia
Sky Dancers were dolls with wings that spun into the air when launched, but their unpredictable flight paths often ended in injuries. Many children were hit in the face or eyes by the hard plastic wings. The toy was eventually recalled after over 100 reports of injuries.
2. Creepy Crawlers “Thingmaker”
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The Creepy Crawlers oven let kids pour liquid plastic into metal molds and bake them into creepy shapes. Unfortunately, the device could reach temperatures hot enough to cause severe burns. With today’s stricter safety standards, giving kids an oven with toxic-smelling plastic would be unacceptable.
3. Aqua Dots
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Aqua Dots were colorful beads that stuck together when sprayed with water, allowing kids to make art projects. However, the coating on the beads contained a chemical that metabolized into GHB, a dangerous “date rape” drug, if swallowed. This led to several cases of children being hospitalized, and the toy was quickly recalled.
4. Skip-It
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Skip-It was a ball attached to a plastic hoop that kids looped around one ankle while hopping over it with the other foot. The concept seemed harmless, but the hard plastic ball could bruise ankles and cause falls. Many parents criticized it for leading to unnecessary playground injuries.
5. Moon Shoes
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Marketed as mini-trampolines for your feet, Moon Shoes promised to make kids “bounce like astronauts.” The reality was sprained ankles, bruised knees, and a serious risk of falling. Today, their lack of ankle support and stability would never pass safety standards.
6. Snacktime Cabbage Patch Kids
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This Cabbage Patch doll had a mechanical mouth that “ate” plastic snacks kids fed it. Unfortunately, the doll did not distinguish between fake food and children’s fingers or hair. Several incidents led to painful injuries, making it one of the most infamous recalls of the decade.
7. Water Wiggle
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Although originally released earlier, the Water Wiggle was still around in the ’90s. This water toy connected to a garden hose and whipped around unpredictably, sometimes striking children in the face. Worse, if the nozzle came loose, it could shoot water with enough force to cause serious harm.
8. Yo-Yo Water Balls
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These squishy, liquid-filled yo-yo balls became a fad in the late ’90s. However, they posed multiple risks, from strangulation by the stretchy cord to bursting and leaking chemicals. Several countries banned them outright, citing severe safety concerns.
9. Splash Off Water Rockets
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These pump-activated water rockets shot high into the air when pressurized. Kids loved the spectacle, but the rockets often launched with dangerous force and hit people unexpectedly. Today, any toy capable of causing blunt-force injuries would be heavily restricted.
10. Pogo Balls
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Pogo Balls were inflatable rubber balls with a hard plastic platform that kids balanced on while bouncing. They were marketed as fun fitness toys but often led to sprains, falls, and broken bones. Their unstable design made them a hazard on any hard surface.
11. Jarts (Lawn Darts)
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Although officially banned in 1988, Jarts were still found in some households during the ’90s. These sharp, heavy darts were intended for backyard games but caused thousands of injuries, including fatalities. Their notoriety as one of the most dangerous toys ever made would make their presence today unimaginable.
12. Creepy Crawlers “Creeple Peeple”
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This spin-off of Creepy Crawlers allowed kids to make doll-like heads by melting plastic goop. The process involved high heat and toxic fumes. With stricter toy regulations today, exposing children to molten plastic would never be allowed.
13. Talkboy
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Made famous by Home Alone 2, the Talkboy cassette recorder was a hit among kids. However, its small parts and removable batteries posed choking hazards. Combined with cassette tape ribbons that could be swallowed, modern safety watchdogs would not approve.
14. Nickelodeon Moon Shoes Slime Edition
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Nickelodeon marketed many messy toys, including slime-filled versions of their products. Some of these contained questionable chemical ingredients that irritated skin and stained carpets permanently. With today’s focus on non-toxic play materials, they would not make it past testing.
15. Street Sharks Roller Skates
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Street Sharks roller skates were clunky plastic toys that strapped onto kids’ shoes. They lacked proper padding, brakes, or support. Injuries from falling were so common that safer rollerblades quickly replaced them.
16. Easy-Bake Ovens (Old Version)
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The original Easy-Bake Ovens of the ’90s used real heating elements instead of lightbulbs. This design led to burns and even cases of kids’ fingers getting stuck inside. Modern toy ovens now use safer heating mechanisms and better designs.
17. Biker Mice from Mars Missile Launchers
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Action figures in the ’90s often came with spring-loaded missile launchers, and Biker Mice from Mars toys were notorious for their power. The small plastic projectiles could easily become choking hazards or cause eye injuries. Today, toy launchers are heavily regulated to prevent such risks.
18. Atomic Elmo Bubble Gun
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This Elmo toy blasted bubbles with a solution that was fun but sometimes contained unsafe ingredients. Some versions even leaked electrical parts when the bubble fluid spilled. With today’s strict chemical safety standards, this design would be pulled instantly.
19. Rollerblade Barbie
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Rollerblade Barbie came with real working sparking wheels that created sparks when rolled across hard surfaces. While exciting to kids, it introduced fire hazards if used near flammable materials. A toy with intentional sparks would never be approved today.
20. Tarzan “Rad Repeatin’ Tarzan” Doll
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This Tarzan doll, released alongside Disney’s Tarzan, became infamous for its unintended innuendo. The doll’s arm-swinging motion, combined with audio playback, caused controversy among parents. While not dangerous, the inappropriate design would never pass modern brand reviews.