NOMINEES FOR THE “10 WORST TOYS” LIST

ANIMAL ALLEY PURSE PET
Price: $4.98
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Geoffrey Inc. /Toys R Us
 
Purchased: Toys R Us
 
Age Recommendation: "0+"
 
Warnings: "CAUTION: Remove all tags, twist ties and plastic loops before giving to a child" (on attached tag)
 
HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR INGESTION/ASPIRATION INJURIES!


W.A.T.C.H. OUT!   This soft, colorful pony is sold for infants. The toy has long, fiber-like hair that is not adequately rooted and is easily removable, presenting the potential for ingestion or aspiration injuries. This hazard is not referenced anywhere on the product or product tags.


NINJA BATTLE GEAR - MICHELANGELO
Price: $9.99
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Playmates Toys, Inc.
 
Purchasesd: Target
 
Age Recommendation: "Ages 4 & Up"
 
Warnings: "WARNING: Choking Hazard-Contains small part, not suitable for children under 3 years"
 
HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR BLUNT IMPACT INJURIES!


W.A.T.C.H. OUT!   4-year-old children are encouraged to play the part of a Ninja, while wielding various weapons. One such weapon is Michelangelo's “Nunchaku", which the manufacturer describes as a "Kick-butt signature weapon!" consisting of two long plastic handles connected by a plastic chain. Remarkably, there are no accompanying cautions or warnings relating to potential impact injuries.


WALK’N SOUNDS DIGGER THE DOG
Price: $9.99
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Hasbro/ Playskool
 
Purchased: Kmart
 
Age Recommendation: "Over 12 MONTHS"
 
Warnings: Cautions regarding batteries (on packaging)
 
HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR STRANGULATION / ENTANGLEMENT INJURIES!


W.A.T.C.H. OUT!   Despite the industry’s voluntary standard requiring strings on playpen or crib toys to be less than 12” in length, some manufacturers continue to market toys such as this “Digger The Dog” pull toy, with a cord measuring approximately 26 inches. Sold to be “your child’s best friend!”, it is intended for “infants” and thus, is a prime candidate for cribs and playpens.


PUCCI PUPPIES - MY OWN PUPPY HOUSE GOLDEN RETRIEVER
Price: $14.99
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Battat, Incorporated
 
Purchased: Target
 
Age Recommendation: “2 years +”
 
Warnings: None

 
HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR CHOKING INJURIES!


W.A.T.C.H. OUT! Oral age children as young as 2 years old are encouraged to play with this plush, golden retriever puppy, sold with a dog house and accessories including a bone, cookie, chew toy and food bowl. These accessories are small parts that could easily be ingested by a child, presenting the potential for serious choking injuries.


MEADOW MYSTERY PLAY-A-SOUND BOOK WITH A CUDDLY POOH
Price: $9.97
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
 
Purchased: Walmart
 
Age Recommendation: “18 months+” (box) and “RECOMMENDED FOR ALL AGE GROUPS” (toy)
 
Warnings: "CAUTION: Before giving to a child, please cut, remove, and discard all plastic attachments" (on package)
 
HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR CHOKING INJURIES!


W.A.T.C.H. OUT!   This soft Winnie The Pooh doll is packaged and sold with a "Meadow Mystery" book. Pooh’s cloth mask, once removed, poses the potential for choking injuries. Despite the wording on the packaging and the book that the product has been safety tested for children “18 months+”, the tag attached to the plush toy indicates that it is "[r]ecommended for all age groups".


INFLATABLE GIGA BALL
Price: $49.99
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Kenscott, Ltd.
 
Purchased: Target
 
Age Recommendation: "Ages 4+"
 
Warnings: “ "WARNING: DO NOT USE ON HILLS AND IN WATER”(on box), and other warnings on toy and package insert.
 
HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR IMPACT AND OTHER SERIOUS INJURIES!


W.A.T.C.H. OUT!   Children as young as 4 years old are encouraged to “crawl inside” this colorful inflatable ball, in order to “spin, tumble, [and] bounce”. The box warns against using the ball on hills or near water, and notes that parental supervision is “required”. However, the toy itself indicates that adult supervision is only "recommended", and the package insert further warns the ball is "[n]ot for pool side use or as a flotation device".


SPIDER-MAN ADJUSTABLE TOY SKATES
Price: $19.99
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Street Flyers, LLC
 
Purchased: Target
 
Age Recommendation: “Ages 3 To 6”
 
Warnings: "HELMETS, WRIST GUARDS, KNEE PADS AND ELBOW PADS SHOULD BE WORN WHILE SKATING", and other warnings
 
HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR WRIST AND OTHER IMPACT INJURIES!


W.A.T.C.H. OUT!   The packaging for these adjustable toy skates has numerous warnings, including the requirement that children wear helmets, wrist guards, knee pads and elbow pads while skating. Inexplicably, the safety gear sold with the toy includes only knee and elbow pads.


SPORTSMAN SHOTGUN
Price: $29.99
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Parris Manufacturing Company
 
Purchased: Netlink Enterprises, Inc. (online)
 
Age Recommendation: “Not recommended for children under 3 years of age” and “AGE 14+”
 
Warnings: “Never aim or shoot at any animal”; “Do not aim at eyes or face”; and other warnings
 
HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR EYE INJURIES!


W.A.T.C.H. OUT!   This realistic looking weapon is sold online as a “toy” for use by children. Once the rubber bullets are loaded into the shotgun’s magazine, and the ammunition is pushed into the gun’s chamber, “[y]ou are now ready to shoot”. This weapon is not a toy and should not be sold for use by children.


EXTREME SPIRAL COPTERS
Price: $3.00
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Toysmith Group
 
Purchased: Belmont Toys
 
Age Recommendation: "Ages 5 & Up"
 
Warnings: "CAUTION: DO NOT SHOOT AT PEOPLE OR ANIMALS”, and other cautions and warnings.
 
HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR EYE INJURIES!


W.A.T.C.H. OUT!  These copters are described by the manufacturer as having “awesome spiral action!” Young children are encouraged to launch the projectile into the air with the provided elastic band, in a fashion similar to a slingshot. Cautions include: “DO NOT SUBSTITUTE THE SUPPLIED COPTER WITH ANY OTHER PROJECTILE”, and “DO NOT AIM AT EYES OR FACE”.


GO GO MINIS PULLBACK VEHICLE
Price: $4.99
 
Manufacturer or Distributor: Kid Galaxy, Inc.
 
Purchased: Calendar Club Go! Toys & Games
 
Age Recommendation: :“Ages 3+” (on display box only)
 
Warnings: “WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD-Small Parts. Not For Children under 3-yrs on display package only
 
HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR CHOKING INJURIES!


W.A.T.C.H. OUT!  These miniature fire trucks, garbage trucks and school buses are sold individually at the checkout counter in a display box. The rear tires of these vehicles are removeable, presenting the potential for a serious choking injury for oral age children. Incredibly, the “choking hazard” warning appears only on the display box, and not on the individual toys.


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