BOSTON – The annual tradition of buying toys as gifts is often hand-in-hand with taking children to the emergency room because of injuries related to some of those toys, according to World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.)
Every year W.A.T.C.H. lists what it’s panel consider the 10 worst or most dangerous toys for the shopping season.
This year’s nominees include:
Niclelodeon Nella Princess Kinight Pillow Pets Sleeptime Lights. These soft, plush “Pillow Pets Sleeptime Lites” project colorful nightsky images to make “night-time fun”. Marketed for infants as a nightlight for baby’s room, remarkably the package cautions that the product is “not intended” for use in a crib. Nella is adorned with small, felt-like flower and heart-tag accessories which, if removed, present potential ingestion hazards. Additionally, the manufacturer identifies a “battery acid leakage” hazard.
Nerf Vortex VTX Praxis Blaster. Children as young as eight-years-old are invited to load the supplied ammunition and “fire 10 discs in a row with pump-action blasting!” The launch-force of the discs presents the potential for eye and facial injuries.
Marvel Black Panther Slash Claw. These rigid, plastic claws, based on a popular comic book and movie character, are sold to five-year-olds to “slash” like the Black Panther, while simultaneously advising not to “hit or swing at people.…”
Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel Superstar Blade. Young children are encouraged to “power up” with this “Super Ninja Steel” spring-loaded plastic blade, with the potential to cause facial and other impact injuries.
Cabbage Patch Kids Dance Time Doll. “Dance Time Cabbage Patch Kids” wear brightly color tutus. Incredibly, even though the dolls are marketed for oral-age children, they are sold with a “removable” headband, which can be ingested.
Zoo Jamz Xylophone. This multi-colored, caterpillar-themed instrument is sold for babies as young as 18 months old. The manufacturer provides no warnings regarding the slender, rigid, approximately 9-inch-long drumstick handle, which can potentially be mouthed and occlude a child’s airway.
Nici Wonderland Doll: Miniclara The Ballerina. The Miniclara ballerina doll, marketed for oral-age children as young as 2-years-old, is sold with her friend “little kitten” as an accessory. The soft, plush kitten, however, can detach, posing the potential for choking if ingested.
Stomp Rocket Ultra Rocket. Six -year-old children are advised to “Run. Jump. Stomp!” in order to launch a rocket “up to 200 FEET!” Many warnings appear on the package and package inset, in an effort to “prevent serious eye or face injuries.…”
Cutting Fruit. The magnetic apple, pear and orange are sold with a “slicing knife” made of hard plastic. The knife can potentially cause puncture wounds and other blunt trauma injuries.
Chien A Promener Pull Along Dog. Despite the industry’s standard requiring strings on playpen and crib toys to be less than 12 inches in length, manufacturers are still permitted to market “pull toys” such as “Pull Along Dog” with a cord measuring approximately 19 inches. No warnings are provided.
