Most Dangerous Toys of 2024

Even with the holiday season rapidly approaching, it may come as a surprise to consumers that certain toys can be quite dangerous. To make sure that parents and caregivers are aware of potential product hazards, W.A.T.C.H., or the World Against Toys Causing Harm, compiles a list of the top ten worst toys each year. The organization’s list serves as a sobering reminder of how something as simple as a present can lead to serious injury — or even worse. Before embarking upon your holiday shopping, refer to W.A.T.C.H.’s list of this year’s most hazardous toys to learn which types of products are best to avoid.

According to W.A.T.C.H., one child is treated in an emergency room every three minutes for a toy-related injury. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that there were 209,500 toy-related injuries in 2022. Additionally, there were 29 preventable toy-related fatalities from 2020 to 2022. Product hazards like choking, ingestion, suffocation, and intestinal obstructions are all common culprits in toy-related tragedies.

The 10 Worst Toys

W.A.T.C.H.’s list is in no way exhaustive, but it does serve as a useful guide for parents and caregivers to learn about which toys they should avoid purchasing. It is also an excellent reference point for evaluating toys that you may already have in your home. Here is W.A.T.C.H.’s list of the most dangerous toys of 2024:

• Pinovk Toy Colt 45 Pistol: potential for tragedy due to realistic toy weaponry
• Bristle Hedgehog: Linked to ingestion injuries
• Transformers Earthspark Cyber-Sleeve: Potential for eye injuries
• Kinetic Sand Scents – Ice Cream Treats: Ingestion hazards
• Click N’ Play Toy Remote Set: Can cause choking injuries
• Snackles – Sandy: Potential for suffocation-related injuries
• X-Shot Poppy Playtime: Potential for eye injuries
• Playzone-Fit Tri-Flyer: Can cause impact injuries
• Zoo Jamz Doggy Xylophone: Linked to ingestion and choking injuries

In addition to the top ten most dangerous toys of this year, W.A.T.C.H. also cautions consumers against purchasing certain types of children’s toys. Here is a brief list of products that are best to leave on the shelf and out of children’s hands:

• Toy guns. These are dangerous because they can be mistaken for real weapons
• Projectile toys, which can cause serious eye injuries
• Plush toys due to suffocation risks
• Toys with small or detachable parts, which create choking and ingestion dangers

Other toy-related hazards that you should be wary of when shopping for children, especially children under the age of five, include:

• Battery-operated toys have multiple hazards, including ingestion, choking, and external and internal burns
• Internet-marketed toys, which sometimes fail to include warnings and can provide missing or incomplete product information
• Sharp toys, like those with pointed tips and blunt or sharp edges
• Toys with strings, which present strangling hazards
• Crib and playpen toys. Any toy strung across a crib or playpen creates potential dangers
• Toys with flammable materials. Be sure to check each product’s safety label to make sure it is marked as Flame Retardant/Flame Resistant
• Electric toys. Any toy that requires electricity to function poses a risk of shock or electrocution
• Long-handed toys. Young children should not have toys with long parts, like handles. They create choking and impact hazards
• Toxic toys, like toys with surfaces made from certain paints or chemicals. Be sure to always check ingredients
• Age-appropriate toys: make sure to read the toy’s label for the recommended age level

How are Kid’s Toys Regulated?

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, oversees product safety by safeguarding consumers against dangerous products. The CPSC has numerous protections in place to protect children from exposure to preventable toy-related hazards, like:

• Federal safety standards, including limiting amounts of certain toxic chemicals like lead, mercury, arsenic, barium, cadmium and more
• Maintaining a searchable database (https://www.SaferProducts.gov) of consumer product incidents that allows all individuals to submit reports of harm
• Requiring all toys intended for children ages 12 and under to be certified as third-party tested and in compliance with all federal toy safety standards
• Other protections include prohibiting small parts in products for children under three, prohibiting sharp points in products for children under eight, and more

What to Do If Your Child is Harmed by a Toy

Despite the array of federal protections that are in place and the fact that manufacturers are legally responsible for creating, producing, and distributing safe products, dangerous toys remain a major issue. If your child sustains a toy-related injury, the first step you should take is to contact an attorney. An experienced lawyer can help you and your loved ones to determine if your product liability claim involves a design defect, manufacturing defect, and/or a marketing defect. If you would like to learn more about filing a products liability claim, someone at our firm can help. Contact a representative online now to learn more.

Philadelphia Products Liability Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

Contact the Philadelphia products liability attorneys at Galfand Berger today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.