Prevent Holiday Horrors by Avoiding These 10 Toys

Prevent Holiday Horrors by Avoiding These 10 Toys

As youngsters begin to put the finishing touches on their wishlists to Santa, it is important that parents start “checkin’ it twice” before sending it off to the North Pole. The upcoming holiday season will account for over 65% of the year’s total toy sales and will include potential hazards to consumers.

In November, W.A.T.C.H (World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc.) announced its 2016 nominees for the 10 worst toys of the year at their annual toy conference. The list contains toys with inconsistent and inadequate warnings, cautions and age recommendations, as well as other classic safety hazards that continue to reappear year after year.

The 2016 list includes:

Peppa Pig’s Muddy Puddles Family

Manufacturer or Distributor: Jazwares, LLC

Retailer(s): Target, Amazon.com

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR CHOKING INJURIES!

W.A.T.C.H. OUT! This set of four “Peppa Pig” figurines includes an entire “muddy puddles family”. Incredibly, despite the “choking hazard” warning and “3+” age recommendation on the packaging of some toys, other packages of what appear to be the same toys are sold for oral-age children as young as “2+” with no warnings about toy-related hazards.

Kids Time Baby Children’s Elephant Pillow

Manufacturer or Distributor: Kids Time US; Appease Toys

Retailer(s): Amazon.com

HAZARD:  POTENTIAL FOR SUFFOCATION!

W.A.T.C.H. OUT! This large, plush pillow in the form of a cuddly stuffed elephant is marketed with an image on the retailer’s website depicting an infant snuggling alone with the plush animal. There are no warnings or age recommendations on the product itself. The hazards associated with pillows sold for infants are well documented. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has warned that a pillow can block a baby’s mouth and can cause a baby to suffocate. “Infant pillow[s]” and “any other similar article[s]” which are “intended or promoted for use by children under one year of age” have been banned by the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (16 CFR 1500.18).

Slimeball Slinger

Manufacturer or Distributor:  Diggin Active, Inc

Retailer(s): Toys R Us, Amazon.com

HAZARD:  POTENTIAL FOR EYE INJURIES!

W.A.T.C.H. OUT! The “slimeball launcher” is similar to a slingshot, and is sold with bright green “slimeballs” as ammunition, which can be fired “over 30 feet!” Projectiles launched with such force have the potential to cause serious eye injuries.

Banzai Bump N’ Bounce Body Bumpers

Manufacturer or Distributor:  ToyQuest

Retailer(s): Walmart, Amazon.com, Ebay.com, Sears.com

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR IMPACT INJURIES!

W.A.T.C.H. OUT! Children as young as 4-years-old are encouraged to “[s]lip into your bumper suit for a “bumpin’ bump ‘em’ fun time!” Children on the packaging are shown running into each other without any “protection” (not included), as recommended by the manufacturer.

Nerf Rival Apollo XV-700 Blaster

Manufacturer or Distributor: Hasbro

Retailer(s): Walmart.com, Target.com, Amazon.com, Kmart.com

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR EYE INJURIES!

W.A.T.C.H. OUT! The manufacturer of this “blaster” with an “easy-load magazine” encourages “precision battling” during “intense head-to-head competition.” The ammunition provided can shoot with enough force to potentially cause eye injuries. Images on the box depict children wearing masks covering their face and eyes, however the face mask is “not included” and must be purchased separately.

The Good Dinosaur Galloping Butch

Manufacturer or Distributor: Tomy

Retailer(s): Amazon.com, Walmart.com, ToyRUs.com

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR PUNCTURE WOUND INJURIES!

W.A.T.C.H. OUT! This “rugged Tyrannosaurus Rex” is a popular children’s movie character marketed as a “Rustler’s worst nightmare.” Operation of the dinosaur by children as young as 3-years-old in order to evoke “galloping action and sounds” requires the push of a button on the toy’s rigid, pointed tail, which may be held close to a child’s torso or face. There exists a potential for significant puncture wound injuries during encouraged playtime activity.

Peppy Pups

Manufacturer or Distributor: TPF Toys, Ltd.

Retailer(s): Toys R Us

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR STRANGULATION INJURIES!

W.A.T.C.H. OUT! Despite the industry’s standard requiring strings on playpen and crib toys to be less than 12 inches in length, manufacturers are permitted to market pull toys like the “Peppy Pup,” with a cord measuring approximately 31 inches.

Flying Heroes Superman Launcher

Manufacturer or Distributor: I-Star Entertainment, LLC; The Bridge Direct, Inc.

Retailer(s): Toys R Us, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Sears.com, Ebay.com, BigW.com

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR EYE AND FACIAL INJURIES!

W.A.T.C.H. OUT! This flying, winged superhero figurine is sold with a launcher for children as young as 4 years old, who are encouraged to “[g]rip it!” and “[r]ip it!” The instructions caution that the Superman character should only be launched “at arm’s length and pointing up and away from your face….”

Baby Magic Feed and Play Baby

Manufacturer or Distributor:  New Adventures LLC LTD

Retailer(s): Toys R Us, Amazon.com, Sears.com

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR INGESTION INJURIES!

W.A.T.C.H. OUT! The “Baby Magic” doll, which plays “peek a boo,” comes with a baby bottle, high chair, blanket, food dish, and “interactive spoon.” The slender, rigid plastic spoon is approximately 2 ¾” long, with the potential to be mouthed and occlude a child’s airway.

Warcraft Doomhammer

Manufacturer or Distributor: Jakks Pacific, Inc.

Retailer(s): Toys R Us, Amazon.com

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR BLUNT IMPACT INJURIES!

W.A.T.C.H. OUT! 6-year-old children are encouraged to “[f]eel the power of the horde!” with the “legendary Doomhammer,” based on weaponry in the “Warcraft” movie. The manufacturer offers no warnings regarding potential impact injuries associated with foreseeable use of the heavy, rigid plastic battle hammer.

For additional information regarding these toys and other potentially hazardous toys, please visit www.toysafe.org.