The 1990s were a golden era for toys, with innovative designs and technology bringing excitement into many children’s lives. However, not all these toys were completely safe. Over time, several popular items from the decade have been recognized for their potential hazards, raising eyebrows among safety experts and parents alike. Here’s a look at ten childhood toys from the ’90s that were surprisingly hazardous.
1. Sky Dancers
Sky Dancers were whimsical fairy-like dolls that would soar into the air when their pull-string bases were activated. Despite their enchanting appearance, they posed significant risks. The flying dolls were known to cause injuries such as scratched corneas, temporary blindness, and facial lacerations, leading to numerous emergency room visits. By the year 2000, their production faced intense scrutiny, culminating in a recall to address safety concerns.
2. Moon Shoes
Nickelodeon’s Moon Shoes promised kids the ability to mimic the low-gravity bounce of walking on the moon. However, these mini-trampolines for your feet were a recipe for sprained ankles and nasty falls. The instability caused by the elastic bands combined with a hard plastic frame made it difficult to control jumps, leading to numerous accidents and injuries during play.
3. Creepy Crawlers
The Creepy Crawlers’ “Thingmaker” was essentially a mini oven used to cook up gooey, rubbery insects. The excitement of making your own toy bugs came with a risk—the ovens got extremely hot, leading to burns. The original version from the ’60s was already notorious for safety issues, and even though the ’90s version included safety updates, it still caused its fair share of minor burns.
4. Slip ‘N Slide
While technically introduced in the ’60s, the Slip ‘N Slide remained popular into the ’90s and beyond. It consisted of a long piece of plastic that users would wet down and slide on from one end to the other. The toy was primarily marketed to children, but when teens and adults used the slide, it led to severe neck injuries and paralysis in some cases, due to the high-speed collisions with the ground at the end of the slide.
5. Lawn Darts
Lawn darts, or Jarts, were banned in 1988 but remained in many homes throughout the ’90s. These heavy, metal-tipped darts, intended to be thrown at a target on the ground, were responsible for thousands of injuries and even fatalities. Their dangerous design and the ease with which they could be thrown made them one of the most hazardous toys of the decade.
6. Pogo Ball
The Pogo Ball was another bouncing toy that combined a rubber ball with a plastic platform. While it provided a unique way for kids to hop around, it also led to a high number of falls and injuries. The instability of the ball, especially on uneven surfaces, made it a common culprit for sprained wrists and ankles among its users.
7. Easy-Bake Oven
The Easy-Bake Oven allowed children to bake small treats with a real heating element. While a cherished toy for many aspiring young chefs, its accessible heating element was a burn hazard. Throughout the ’90s, the toy underwent several redesigns to improve safety, yet incidents of minor burns were still reported, primarily when children tried to retrieve food from inside the oven.
8. Water Wigglies
Water Wigglies were slippery, water-filled tubes that were difficult to hold onto, which was precisely what made them fun. However, the toy’s design, which often included small beads or glitter inside, also posed a choking hazard if the toy ruptured. Furthermore, their slippery exterior could easily cause drops and falls, especially when used in pool areas.
9. Snacktime Cabbage Patch Kids
The Snacktime Cabbage Patch Kids featured battery-operated mechanical jaws designed to “eat” plastic snacks. However, these dolls didn’t have an on/off switch and would continue munching on whatever was near their mouths, including children’s fingers and hair. This led to several frightening incidents, prompting a recall in 1997 to address these unforeseen safety issues.
10. Yo-Yo Water Balls
Yo-Yo Water Balls were stretchy liquid-filled balls attached to a bouncy cord. They could be swung around like a yo-yo but were prone to causing injuries. The cord could wrap around children’s necks, leading to strangulation hazards, and the force of the ball could cause facial injuries. Despite their popularity, calls for bans and warnings about their use persisted well into the early 2000s.
Toys From the 90s: Fun But Unsafe At Times
While many of these toys provided hours of fun and entertainment, they also served as reminders of the importance of toy safety and the need for continuous improvement in design and regulation. Parents and guardians are encouraged to always check for safety recalls and supervise children during play, especially with older or vintage toys.
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