‘10 Worst Toys Of 2019’ Revealed Ahead Of Holiday Shopping Season

The consumer group W.A.T.C.H. — World Against Toys Causing Harm — has released its list of the “10 Worst Toys of 2019” just as millions of U.S. consumers are checking off items on their children's letters to Santa. The toy-safety group highlighted a government report that showed toys marketed as harmless fun have killed more than three dozen U.S. children in recent a two-year period.

In the dangerous toys report released Tuesday, W.A.T.C.H. included such toys as the Nerf Ultra One, Pogo Trick Board, and a realistic looking toy submachine gun it said could be mistaken for the real thing and result in a child being shot and killed.

Some popular toys can be lethal in the hands of children, the toy-safety group said, citing the most recent Consumer Product Safety Commission statistics that show an estimated 251,700 toy-related injuries in the United States in 2017. The agency also said a reported 37 children died in toy-related incidents from 2015 to 2017, toy-related injuries 40 percent from 1990 to 2011, and one child is treated in a U.S. emergency room every three minutes for a toy-related injury.

The Toy Association, an industry trade group, said the list "needlessly frightens parents and caregivers" in an attempt to gain media attention. By law, all toys sold in the United States must meet more than 100 rigorous safety tests and standards, the Toy Association said in a statement.

"On the other hand, W.A.T.C.H. does not test the toys in its report to check their safety," the statement continued. "Their allegations appear to be based on their misrepresentation or misunderstanding of the mandatory toy standards.

"Unable to find product defects on the market as a result of these strict U.S. toy standards and test requirements, W.A.T.C.H. tends to focus on products with safety instructions and warnings, as if responsibly providing safety information to consumers is somehow an indication that a product cannot be safe for use or for sale, when the opposite is true."

Here’s the full list of the “10 Worst Toys of 2019” from W.A.T.C.H.:

Nerf Ultra One, manufactured by Hasbro: Recommended for children 8 and older, the manufacturer of the dart “blaster” boasts the ammunition travels up to 120 feet with "powerful speed," making it the "farthest flying Nerf dart" ever. Product warnings say that only Nerf darts should be used; W.A.T.C.H says it shoots with enough force to potentially cause eye injuries.

Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog, manufactured by Learning Resources Inc.: The toy for toddlers 18 months and older was included, the W.A.T.C.H. said, because the 12 hard-plastic quills can be removed and have a potential for ingestion and choking injuries.

Bunchems Bunch’n Build, manufactured by Spin Master Ltd.: Recommended for kids 4 and older, the activity balls have a potential for hair entanglement and choking, the toy-safety group said. Numerous warnings include a caution to tie back hair when using and to avoid using around pets.

Yeti, manufactured by Douglas Company Inc.: The ape-like toy for toddlers 24 months and older contains no warnings. But W.A.T.C.H. says the long, fiber-like hair may not be adequately rooted, and poses a potential for ingestion and aspiration injuries.

Nickelodeon’s Frozen Treats Slime, manufactured by LaRose Industries, doing business as Cra-Z-Art: Recommended for children ages 6 and older, it looks like edible frozen treats, but contains hazardous chemicals. Package warnings say it’s not real food and should be used only with adult supervision; W.A.T.C.H. notes a potential for chemical ingestion or skin irritation.

Anstoy Electronic Toy Gun, manufactured by Anstoy: The toy gun is recommended for kids 14 and older, and the instructions say users should wear goggles; and they shouldn’t shoot people or animals at close range or at fragile objects. The toy-safety group calls it “realistic toy weaponry” that could be mistaken for the real thing, resulting in a child’s death or injury, and adds “there is simply no excuse for marketing ‘toys’ such as this ‘submarine gun.’ ”

Diecast School Bus, manufactured by Schylling: The miniature yellow school buses are recommended for children 3 and older, and packaging includes a stick-on warning for a choking hazard. W.A.T.C.H. says the firm rubber tires, mounted on plastic wheels, can be removed and present a choking hazard.

Pogo Trick Board, manufactured by Flybar Inc.: Recommended for children 6 and older, the toy has a potential for head and impact injuries, W.A.T.C.H. said. The package warning says: “be safe. Always wear a helmet and other protective gear,” but the toy-safety group says the product comes with a “high bounce ball” and “dual handles for tricking out,” and despite the warnings, “only two of the three children shown on the package are wearing helmets, and none are using other protective items.”

Power Rangers Electronic Cheetah Claw, manufactured by Hasbro: Recommended for children 5 and older, the package warning cautions children not to hit or swing at people or animals and to use away from breakable objects, and also includes a small parts warning. W.A.T.C.H.says the toy has a potential for eye and facial injuries, and the claws are made of rigid plastic and that kids are encouraged to use the “strength of the Cheetah Claw” to “take on … enemies,” while simultaneously advising children not to “hit or swing at people.”

Viga Pull Along Caterpillar, manufactured by Viga/Belvedere: Recommended for toddlers age 18 months and older, the package doesn’t include any warnings despite what the toy safety group says is a potential for strangulation and entanglement injuries. The toy industry standard requires strings on playpen and crib toys to be less than 12 inches in length, but manufacturers are still permitted to market pull toys with a cord measuring twice that.

At a press conference Tuesday, Joan Siff and James Swartz, respectively the president and director of W.A.T.C.H., pointed out some of the safety hazards that appear in toys year after year — including poorly designed toys that have inconsistent and inadequate warnings, cautions and age recommendations.

Many toy-related injuries are preventable, Siff and Swartz said.

They also noted “the recurrence of many known hazards in toys recalled is clearly suggestive of a broken system that needs fixing before more children are harmed,” according to a press release.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued 27 recalls for more than 1.2 million toys sold in the United States and Canada in a 22-month period that ended in October. The identified hazards included lead poisonings, lacerations and strangulations.

The recalled toys included a doll with a sewing needle inside, a Disney toy eyes that could detach and a Fisher-Price ride-on Barbie camper that could continue running after the foot pedal was released. Other recalled toys had the potential for choking and puncture risks.

Recalls are important, the W.A.T.C.H. leaders said, but they pointed out many consumers never receive notice of toy recalls due to sometimes life-threatening hazards, and some reappear on the resale market without the original package warnings. That highlights the importance of thorough safety reviews before toys end up on store shelves, they said.

“Immediate action is needed when the risk of child injury or death is known, so that more children are not unnecessarily put at risk,” the toy-safety group said in the news release.

“Further, it’s important when choosing toys to remember not all unsafe toys are necessarily recalled; enforcement agencies, such as the [Consumer Product Safety Commission], may have limited resources to police such a large industry, existing standards can be inadequate, and regulators often scramble to keep up with emerging technologies."

The Toy Association said toymakers "are committed to toy safety year-round" by providing useful tips for families and caregivers to help them choose age-appropriate toys and ensure safe play."
That group encourages parents and caregivers to buy toys from reputable stores and online sellers they know and trust.

"Toys sold by legitimate and known sellers are tested for compliance with the U.S.’s strict toy safety standard, which includes stringent limits for lead and other chemicals, a highly effective small parts regulation developed with the help of pediatricians, as well as requirements to ensure sturdiness and reliability of toys, among many other requirements," the organization said in the statement.

The Toy Association maintains a free resource for parents about the safety of toys at PlaySafe.org.