November 26, 2025
-by Bonny MacIsaac
Well, it is that time of year, World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.) revealed its 53rd annual nominees for the “10 Worst Toys” of 2025. Toy safety remains a critical concern during this holiday season, the time of year when the most toys are sold, as evidenced by recent recalls, injuries, and the wide range of potential hazards found in toys available for purchase this year.
At the annual toy press conference, W.A.T.C.H discussed toys on the list, including Marvel Avengers Hulk Gamma Smash Fists, Snackles: Disney Minnie, and Nerf Pro Gelfire Ignitor Blaster, stressing that toys meant for fun can carry potential hidden dangers. Siff and Swartz emphasized that many toy-related injuries are preventable, urging the industry to prioritize child safety over marketability and adopt stronger safety measures to prevent hazards before toys reach the marketplace.
“Our goal is to help families make more informed choices about toys and keep children safe, because even the most careful parents may not realize the hidden dangers some toys can pose,” said Joan Siff. “Toy safety means stopping hazards before they ever reach a child’s hands.”
“As long as unsafe toys remain on the market, awareness is vital to preventing injuries and deaths,” stated James Swartz. “But true safety demands stronger oversight and accountability from every link in the chain, from design to store shelves, to ensure hazardous toys never make their way to children.”
W.A.T.C.H. works to inform families about toy hazards and to reduce preventable injuries to children. Advocacy and raising awareness about toy safety is one way to try to identify potential hazards before more children are injured.
Toys, meant to bring joy and inspire creativity in children, should not pose hidden dangers that cause safety concerns for parents. There is no excuse for repeat offenders when children’s health and safety are on the line. Unfortunately, year after year, and this year is no exception, defective toys continue to put children at risk of injury and death. One child is treated in a U.S. emergency room every three minutes for a toy-related injury. Even with W.A.T.C.H.’s continued efforts, classic toy dangers, such as small parts, strings, projectiles, toxic substances, rigid materials, and inaccurate warnings and labels, reappear in new generations of toys, jeopardizing children’s safety. According to the latest data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were an estimated 231,700 toy-related injuries in the United States in 2023, and 40 toy-related deaths involving children 14 years of age and younger between 2021 and 2023. No child should be injured or lose their life from a dangerous toy, yet these numbers make clear that preventable hazards continue to slip through the cracks.
Many of this year’s recalls involved choking and ingestion risks from detachable small parts and high-powered magnets, hazards W.A.T.C.H. has repeatedly warned about over the years. Although choking remains a leading cause of toy-related injuries and deaths, toys with small parts are one of the many hazards that continue to unnecessarily put children at risk. In just the first ten months of 2025 alone, at least 20 toys have been recalled due to choking and ingestion hazards, representing more than 230,000 units in the U.S., small parts that could detach during play or long pieces that could be mouthed and occlude a child’s airway are examples of less obvious hazards. On the 2025 nominees for the “Worst Toys” list, both the Shape Sorter Xylophone and the Little Cuties Doll reflect these potential ingestion or choking hazards for young children.
These recalls highlight the importance of premarket screening, the danger children are in when toy companies don’t pay attention to known hazards, and the need to be proactive when it comes to protecting children from harm:
Once a dangerous toy is made available for sale, it can put generations of children at risk of harm. The reality is many unsafe toys end up in children’s homes and schools. The need for continued vigilance remains whether toys are new or used, purchased from popular e-tailers or consumer-to-consumer venues (i.e., eBay, yard sales), or in your home toybox. Although intended for fun and entertainment, many toys contain hidden hazards unnecessarily putting children at risk of injury or death. Beware of toys with deadly track records, recalled toys, and incomplete product information that may mask hazards at the time of purchase.
-Steps for a safer holiday season and beyond: Continued vigilance and awareness about the types of toy hazards that have been associated with injuries in the past can help kids enjoy a safer holiday season. Beware of toys with deadly track records, recalled toys, and incomplete product information that may mask hazards at the time of purchase.
-Shop defensively: What can parents and caregivers do to arm themselves against toys that could injure children? Since there currently is no full-proof safety net in place to prevent dangerous toys from reaching consumers, the message for parents this holiday season is to think defensively when it comes to toy safety. For starters, know what classic safety traps to look out for, inspect new and old toys for defects and poor design, learn to identify hidden hazards that reappear year after year, and do not be lulled into a false sense of security that a toy is safe because of a familiar brand name on a package or due to its availability at a well-known retailer or e-tailer. Ordering online is a convenient way to avoid holiday crowds, but shoppers face the disadvantage of not being able to physically examine the toy at the time of purchase. Whether buying a toy in-person or online, W.A.T.C.H. wants to remind families to thoroughly inspect a toy and its packaging for safety red flags before giving it to a child (go to ToySafety.org for more information). Behind each injury and fatality is a child and family whose lives are permanently affected. Even one injury to one child is too many, particularly when the injury is preventable.
W.A.T.C.H.’s “10 Worst Toys” list, is a hands-on tool for consumers, raising awareness of the different types of potential hazards to avoid while toy shopping. The particular toys nominated for the “10 Worst Toys” list is illustrative of some potential hazards in toys being sold to consumers and should not be considered as the only potentially hazardous toys on the market.
So, without further ado here are 5 of the NOMINEES FOR THE “10 WORST TOYS” LIST:
- Blox Fruits Ember Dragon Ultimate Bundle: Manufacturer or Distributor: PhatMojo, LLC; Gamer Robot LLC Ages: 6+ Hazard: Potential for blunt force and puncture injuries! W.A.T.C.H. out! The “Blox Fruits” bundle includes plush and hard plastic toys, as well as cards depicting various colorful figures. These items are sold in a plastic case in the form of a dragon character, complete with rigid pointed horns, with the potential to cause blunt force or puncture injuries.
- Ultimate Makeup Kit: Manufacturer or Distributor: FAO Schwarz Ages: 6+ Hazard: Potential for allergic reaction injuries! W.A.T.C.H. out! This makeup kit is marketed as providing “makeup fun for everyone.” In addition to eyeliner pencils, mirrors and other tools, young children are provided makeup including lipstick, lip gloss, eyeshadow, and blush, each containing a laundry list of chemical ingredients.
- Little Cuties Doll: Manufacturer or Distributor: Madame Alexander Doll Company, LLC Ages: 0+ (tag only) “Age Ranges: 18 Months to 8 Years” (Barnesandnoble.com) Hazard: Potential for choking injuries! W.A.T.C.H. Out! These dolls are sold for infants, complete with sleepwear. The outfit includes a cloth headband with bow, attached only by a thin cord. Once removed, these items may potentially present a choking hazard.
- SNACKLES: DISNEY MINNIE: Manufacturer or Distributor: Zuru, Inc. Ages: “0+” (tag); “For ages 3 and up” (Michaels.com) Hazard: Potential for suffocation injuries! W.A.T.C.H. out! This soft, plush toy is sold with an age recommendation of “0+” on the toy. The potential suffocation hazards associated with pillows and certain plush toys used by infants are well documented. Infant pillows and similar items have been banned by the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (16 CFR 1500.18).
- Sheepdog Puppet: Manufacturer or Distributor: Folkmanis, Inc., Ages: “Not suitable for children under 10 months.”; “Recommended: Ages 3 and up” (tag); “3 months and up” (Amazon.com) Warnings: “Caution! Not suitable for children under 10 months due to long hair” (tag) Hazard: Potential for ingestion injuries! W.A.T.C.H. out! This soft, floppy sheepdog “puppet” is sold with inconsistent age recommendations. The toy puppet’s long, fiber-like hair may not be adequately rooted. The hair, once removed, presents the potential for ingestion or aspiration injuries.
Thanks to the folks at W.A.T.C.H.. Next week more highlights from the press conference and the last of the worst toy list nominees. There are many warnings associated with several of these toys. I highly recommend you log on to their website at: www.toysafety.org and click on the '2025 Worst Toys List' link and get the full scoop!
