Popular children's toys, often found to be cheap and appealing, may pose significant risks including burns, choking, skin irritation, and exposure to carcinogens, according to safety expert Craig Delahaye, Associate Director of Legal Operations at the National Accident Helpline.
Delahaye warned that the market is flooded with "cheap slop" that can be dangerous, with many items facing product recalls. He advised parents to be vigilant about the toys their children play with, especially those advertised on social media.
Chemical Risks in Viral Toys
"Squeezy dumpling" toys, which have become a playground craze driven by viral TikTok videos, are a particular concern. Imitation versions of these toys have been found to contain excessive concentrations of benzene, a toxic chemical that can cause cancer. Inhaling benzene can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and exposure to larger amounts may lead to skin irritation and a burning sensation in the digestive tract. The Office for Product Safety and Standards in the UK has issued an urgent national recall for fake versions of these toys, branding them a "severe chemical risk." These toys are often sold in plastic basket trays and feature squishy, colorful dumplings. Some distributors, such as Samsons Cash and Carry Ltd in Cardiff, have recalled the product, but the lack of batch numbers or product identifiers makes it difficult to determine if a toy is affected.
Asbestos Found in Sand Kits
Sand kits, often promoted for sensory play and fine motor skill development, have also come under scrutiny. An investigation by Which? discovered asbestos in sand kits sold online and in some retail stores. One toy marketed as a "Montessori sand art tray" and sold on Amazon Marketplace and TikTok Shop was found to contain tremolite asbestos. The "GL Style Sand Bottle Art Heart or Stars" set purchased from Asda also tested positive for the harmful substance. Tremolite asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that can cause severe lung diseases if inhaled. Products containing asbestos are prohibited for sale in the UK. It is believed the affected sand is sourced from quarries in China where asbestos is naturally present. Amazon stated it is removing products in this category pending investigation, while Asda issued a full product recall. eBay has removed identified items and is conducting further sweeps, and TikTok confirmed the identified product had already been removed from its shop.
Dangers of Microwaving Gel Toys
A dangerous social media trend involving microwaving "gel" toys has led to multiple hospitalizations. Children are heating soft, squishy toys to make them more pliable, but this can cause pressure to build inside, leading to explosions that release hot gel. A 10-year-old girl in Queensland suffered severe burns to her face after a cube-shaped Needoh toy exploded in her hands. Medical experts, including those at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, have treated several children with injuries linked to this trend, some requiring surgery and skin grafts. The gel inside these toys can remain extremely hot after microwaving, sticking to the skin and causing deep burns. Burns specialists warn that these injuries can be very serious, potentially leading to permanent scarring.
Water Beads Pose Choking and Obstruction Hazards
Water bead toys, such as Orbeez, are also presenting significant risks. These small, absorbent balls can swell up to four times their original size when they absorb water. If swallowed by a child, they can expand inside the body, causing potentially fatal gastrointestinal obstructions. Dr. Josh Trebach, an emergency medicine physician in Iowa, warned that children can suffer "life-threatening blockages" if they ingest these beads, which can resemble sweets. In March, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and toy company Buffalo Games recalled over 50,000 "Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kits" sold at Target after one infant died and another was injured.
Stringent Safety Concerns for Teething and Activity Toys
Certain teething and pull-string toys for infants pose choking and strangulation hazards. Delahaye warned that some unlicensed online sellers are distributing dangerous knockoffs. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently recalled Sili Factory Pull String Teething Toys because the "silicone strings are smaller and longer than permitted," posing a risk of respiratory distress and choking. Toddler activity cubes have also faced recalls. In 2022, the UK recalled an "Infant Development Educational Box" due to the risk of small parts detaching and blocking a child's airway. In the U.S. this year, approximately 70 wooden activity cubes sold on Amazon were recalled because screws and clock hands could detach, and the mallets had spherical ends, creating choking hazards.
Electronic Toys and Neck Floats Under Scrutiny
Battery-powered and electronic toys can also present risks. In 2024, the UK recalled an electric mini Range Rover for children due to a potential safety concern where products were made without a fuse, increasing the risk of short circuits, melting wires, smoke, and fire. In the U.S., 80,000 LED toys and shot glasses were recalled in May due to accessible button cell battery compartments, which pose a deadly ingestion hazard. Swallowing these batteries can cause severe internal chemical burns and death. Baby neck floats, marketed for teaching infants to swim, are also strongly advised against. These floats, designed to be worn around a child's neck, have been linked to drownings and serious spinal injuries. The UK government has previously recalled them, citing risks of drowning, neck injury, asphyxiation, and other serious harm due to pressure on the infant's neck and potential for the child to slip through or become trapped.