By being either sharp, small or made from weak plastic, toys have had the capacity to harm children for decades, but it was only until 2007 when toys started to be recalled.
Toys have the potential to harm children if toys are sharp, small or made from weak plastic; these characteristics are often found in toys that harm children.
“Bunchems” are one of many toys that can be dangerous. At first glance, they seem like harmless little velcro balls, but they can very easily get stuck in your hair.
This problem is so common that there are countless YouTube tutorials on how to get these “Bunchems” out of your hair.
Some of these toys aren’t even recalled until years after they have been a problem. The CSI Fingerprint Analysis Kit, which contained asbestos, a deadly carcinogen, was released in 2007; however, it was not recalled until 2009.
This toy was able to stick around in homes for two years, waiting to be used and expose the child or whoever used it to a deadly toxin.
Another famously dangerous toy was the Hasbro Javelin Darts, or more commonly known as “Lawn Darts”, which were popular during the 1970s and 1980s.
These toys were very large darts meant to be thrown into a small ring that you stand near.
There have been numerous reports of people being struck by these large darts and being hospitalized as a result.
More recently, the Mario Kart 24V Racer Car was found to have debris often lodged between the brake and gas pedal, which led to the inability to stop or decelerate.
Debris was able to get stuck between the pedals so easily because the pedal was exposed and not protected at all.
This is not just an old issue, these faulty toys are still impacting millions of children and parents alike.
According to Consumer Affairs, more than 22 million toys were recalled in 2024 alone. Most of the 22 million recalls were from the Miniverse Make It Mini Set.
This cooking set contained resin that, when liquid, could irritate the skin, eyes, or respiratory system.
The rise in online shopping has largely impacted the ability of these toys to reach the market.
Online shopping makes it much easier for these toys or products to bypass safety regulations due to the complex marketplaces they create.
Another way these toys enter the market is through loopholes in U.S. law, which allows low-value shipments to not be forced into inspection and enter the country unchecked.
While some toys do enter the country through this low-value shipment loophole, the vast majority of dangerous toys are still made within the U.S.
This forces parents to make sure that the toy they buy or give their child is safe before they give it to them; even then, parents may still be concerned about the safety of their child.
On a more positive note, while this issue is still prominent in the U.S., it is a declining problem for children and parents.
Toy-related injuries have decreased by 13% from 2017 to 2024, according to the U.S. PIRG Education Fund.