When buying a gift for a child, you may want it to be fun, educational, or both. What you don’t want is something that could endanger the child’s health. Before buying a present, especially for a very small child, make safety your first priority.
The organization WATCH (World Against Toys Causing Harm) has announced this year’s nominations for the ten most dangerous toys, which include the following:
- “BUD” Wheely Cute Pull Along
It looks soft and cuddly, but this pull toy for infants is a good example of the fact that you can’t just look at the toy, what it does and how. It has to be well constructed and not fall apart under normal use. This puppy on wheels with hub caps has been recalled because some have hub caps that can come off, presenting a choking hazard.
- Foam Dart Gun
The main problem is that this play gun looks very much like a real gun (though the end of the barrel has a bright red ring). If your child or someone else uses it, it may be mistaken for an actual pistol by an adult — or, more importantly, a police officer.
- Stats 38 Quick Folding Trampoline
Trampolines have a well-deserved bad reputation for causing injuries to children using them. This one is advertised to kids as young as six but carries a risk of serious head, neck, and other bodily injuries. The packaging states it needs to be used with supervision but there are only kids pictured on the box — no adults present.
- Poo-Dough
Assuming you think it’s a good idea for kids to play with something that looks just like feces, the material used presents a potential for serious allergic reactions by kids who are gluten intolerant because it contains wheat.
- Smack Shot
This is similar to a slingshot and comes with projectiles capable of firing “up to 100ft!” It doesn’t take much imagination to think about the harm (particularly blindings) this “toy” could do if targeted at someone close by.
- Kick Flipper
Marketed as a skateboard without wheels, it provides kids the opportunity to learn how to make it flip in the air when they jump from it. There is no mention on the box of using any safety equipment.
- Leonardo’s Electronic Stealth Sword
This is a rigid, hard plastic sword marketed with a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles character on the packaging. Kids are encouraged to have a “Ninja Battle” with it, which may include bruises and lacerations.
- Kid Connection Doctor Play Set
The playset includes “everything you need to play doctor!” including a thin plastic “tongue depressor” that a child could put in their mouth (or another child’s mouth) which could result in choking.
- Pull Along Zebra
This pull toy is marketed to children as young as twelve months. The 21-inch cord presents a risk of entanglement and strangulation.
- Jurassic World Velociraptor Claws
Oversized claws, based on the “Jurassic World” movies, are sold to let four-year-olds “claw like a raptor!” resulting in eye and facial scrapes and cuts.
Christmas should be all about kids having fun, not experiencing a traumatic injury, and a trip to the local hospital. If your child suffered an injury because of a defective toy, contact our office at (973) 358-6134, so we can talk about what happened, the applicable laws, and possible compensation.