With the opening of the holiday shopping season, it is important that buyers
be wary of toys that may be dangerous for kids. Unfortunately, toys that
are choking hazards, poking hazards, lead hazards, eye hazards, or pose
other kinds of injury hazards continue be found on toy store shelves throughout the US.
While toy manufacturers can be held liable for products liability in the
event of injury or death—a matter that an experienced toy defect
law firm that handles injuries to children cases can help you with—keeping
kids away from certain toys that are already known safety hazards is a
good way to prevent injuries.
To help identify toys that may be potentially dangerous for kids, World
Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH) has released its 2009 Worst Toys List:
- Lots to Love Babies “Mini Nursery”: Small, Detachable parts can be choking hazard
- Disney Pixar Wall-E Foam Rocket Launcher: Fast-launching rocket poses possible eye hazard
- Just Kidz Junior Musical Instruments: Drumstick is a choking hazard if toddler puts in his or her mouth
- Moon Board Pogo Board: Can cause impact and head injuries
- CAT “Rugged Mini”: 3″ inch long metal spoke can cause puncture wounds
- Curious Baby Curious George Counting – My First Book of Numbers: Metal beads are easy to swallow, causing choking and ingestion injuries
- Pucci Pups Maltese: Dog hair poses aspiration hazard
- The Dark Knight Batman Figure: Sharp, pointy parts can cause injury if toddler falls on them
- Spy Gear Viper Blast: “Darts” can pose eye injury
- X-Men Origins Slashin’ Action Wolverine: Sharp claws are an eye or impact injury hazard.
Last week, the Public Interest Research Group issued its report from its
24th annual “Trouble in Toyland” survey. They named 16 toys
they consider either potentially dangerous or that violate current manufacturing
standards. Toys were analyzed to determine if they posed a hearing hazard,
a choking hazard, or contained toxic levels of phthalates or lead. As
of October, the toys could still be found in toy stores:
Phthalates or lead hazards:
- Elmo Lunch Bag by Sassy
- Pretty Princess Puppy Purse by Claire’s
- Collector’s Series Painted Duck
- Alligator cell phone charm by Claire’s
- Big Rex Touch and Feel Cloth Book by Priddy Book
Hearing hazards:
- Bright Lights Phone by Vtech
- Laugh & Learn Learning Phone by Fisher Price
- Kota and Pals Stompers Triceratops by Playskool
- Secret Saturdays Cryptid Claw by Mattel
Choking hazards:
- Worky Work Bench by Nemmer
- Fur Real Baby Bird by Hasbro
- Toy Story Pizza Planet Gift Pack by Mattel
- My First BABY Learn by BABY Born
- an unnamed play food tray by World Market
- Real Wood Shape Sorter Barn by P&C Enterprise
- Creative Wood Stacking Rings by Zaidy Product
New report finds dangerous toys on shelves, Sun-Sentinel, November 24, 2009
2009 “10 Worst Toys” List, WATCH
Related Web Resources:
Trouble in Toyland Survey, Public Interest Research Group
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Contact our child injury lawyers about your products liability case. Your first consultation with us is free.