Top 10 Worst Toys of 2019
#10: Nerf Ultra One
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This comes in at the bottom of our list, not because it fails to pose a threat, but because that threat is pretty well-documented. Nerf guns, big or small, can be a whole lot of fun. But as anybody who’s played with them can attest, those rubbery-plastic tips can hurt when they make contact with the skin. They also pose a safety risk if they happen to hit an unprotected eye. Now… where the Nerf One Ultra distinguishes itself from the rest of the toyline is that it shoots further than any Nerf gun to date - up to 120ft! That’s a lot of power for a toy, and considering the goggles that come with the gun are also considered a “toy”, we’d recommend upgraded eyewear.
#9: Yeti by Douglas Company, Inc.
After the success of 2018’s “Smallfoot” and 2019’s “Abominable,” we suspect that there are plenty of young children who would like to cuddle up to an abominable snowman over the holiday season. Every child deserves to find a snuggly yeti under the Christmas tree, just maybe not THIS yeti. According to W.A.T.C.H., the long artificial hairs that make the yeti soooo fluffy “may not be adequately rooted”, which means that even little hands could pull them out. A bit of stray hair isn’t usually a problem, but considering this toy is recommended for children as young as 24 months, that poses a choking hazard. And considering it can be purchased through major retailers including Amazon, Target and Walmart, that’s a noteworthy threat.
#8: Bunchems Bunch’n Build
When you’re young and your imagination is running wild, there are few things more entertaining, satisfying or stimulating than building something. Bunchems offer an incredible amount of versatility in terms of what can be built with them… but the age range seems to miss the mark. These colorful little balls stick to one another in an almost magical fashion; unfortunately, they can also stick to hair (and pets!) just as easily. This is something that parents have learned the hard way. Four years of age simply isn’t old enough to know how to play with this toy responsibly, no matter how large the warning on the box. The issue is so bad that Bunchems has released a video teaching parents how to disentangle them from hair.
#7: Die-cast School Bus by Schylling
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When you think early lessons in childhood safety, the school bus is among the first things that come to mind. Crossing the street, respecting authority figures, a taste of independence - it’s a veritable treasure trove of learning opportunities! And what better way to get your toddler excited about the big yellow vehicle in their future than by getting them a toy version of it? Schylling’s School bus is recommended for kids age 3 and up, and while many kids that age play with cars and trucks, these toys have to be free from potential choking hazards. And unfortunately, this is where the Schylling School bus misses the mark. Those plastic wheels can pop off easily, and once loose, they pose a serious threat.
#6: Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog
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This is an example of a great concept undermined by its own shortcomings in terms of execution. This friendly-looking hedgehog has a back covered in large, round-tipped pegs that can be removed and then placed back in the receptacles. The problem is that the long slender design is likely to appeal to children with a tendency of putting things in their mouths - and children “18 months and older” generally fit that description. W.A.T.C.H. cautions that the plastic quills could block the airways, which is obviously a major concern. If the manufacturers had just made the whole thing a little bit bigger, it would serve its purpose perfectly and without risk. As is however, constant supervision is a must during playtime.
#5: Pull Along Caterpillar by Viga
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First a hedgehog and now a caterpillar? Are there no creatures in the toy animal kingdom that we can trust to play nice with the kids?! This toy looks like an absolute classic in the making— no batteries or fancy features, just an adorable caterpillar made out of wood that rolls along behind your child as they pull it with a string. Can you spot the issue though? The length of the pull-string. As W.A.T.C.H. points out, most accessories and toys intended for children as young as 18 months and older can’t have strings or ropes over 12 inches. For whatever reason, pull-along toys are an exception, and with its 24 inch rope, this caterpillar poses risk of injury or worse, strangulation.
#4: Power Rangers Electronic Cheetah Claw
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Many of the toys on our list today (like Bunchems), really go out of their way to give clear and concise warnings about how they should and should NOT be used. Sadly, the marketing for this admittedly awesome-looking Power Rangers toy is anything but clear. This gauntlet has retractable claws that are sure to make any young hero-in-the-making feel like a warrior. The thing is, while there’s a caution notice on the packaging that clearly states “do not hit or swing at people or animals,'' the advertising equally talks about “taking on… enemies” and uses some evocative imagery about fighting alongside the Power Rangers. For a child as young as 5, that seems likely to end in injury - or at least some damage around the house.
#3: Pogo Trick Board
This one is pretty self-explanatory. A balancing board with an inflatable ball at its center is bound to result in accidents. Now, we’re by no means suggesting that kids should be raised in a plastic bubble and forbidden from participating in physical activity. They are, after all, going to need to learn to ride a bike eventually, and you can’t do that without a few bumps and bruises. The issue with this particular toy, however, is that the packaging, despite recommending protective gear, shows a kid playing with the Pogo Trick Board without appropriate safety equipment. Same goes with the official ad! And let’s be honest, kids ages 6 and up are more likely to emulate a picture or video than read instructions.
#2: Nickelodeon Frozen Treats Slime
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Here’s a simple set of rules that all toy manufacturers should abide by: don’t make things look like food if they’re not edible. Don’t make things smell like food if they’re not edible. And under absolutely no circumstances should you make a toy that invites kids to shape your product into food-like shapes when it already smells delicious. That’s not a toy, it’s the world’s biggest tease! Sure, this particular Nickelodeon product is called “slime”, which isn’t very appetizing, but it also says “Frozen Treats” in a massive font across the bottom of the box and appeals to kids with terms like “snow cone”, “soft serve” and “berry smoothie”. When you’re making the product look this appetizing… guess what? Kids are going to eat it regardless of the fine print.
#1: Anstoy Submachine Gun
The experts have weighed in, and pretty much everyone agrees that toy guns are a bad idea. The more realistic they look, the worse of a threat they pose to the person playing with it. To the untrained eye, the Anstoy submachine gun just looks like a firearm, and an especially lethal one at that. There’s no orange cap on it to identify it as a toy. Rather than bullets, the toy gun shoots small water bombs, but there’s no way to tell at a glance. The recommended age range (14+) and instructions (“do not shoot at people or animals at close range”), do little to address the main concern: the inherent danger of letting anyone play with such a realistic looking toy gun.
