Top 10 Shocking Kids Toys Scandals

The British children’s TV series “Teletubbies” premiered in the late ‘90s and became an instant success all over the world. The show’s characters, known for their distinct colors and gibberish speech, were soon made into talking dolls that were sold internationally. It didn’t take long for one of the toys, Po, to generate controversy over what it was supposedly saying. According to some parents, they believed the doll uttered certain reprehensible words, including an offensive slur. This resulted in at least one store removing all Po dolls from their shelves. The toy’s manufacturer later cleared the air, stating that it was only repeating some of the gibberish words associated with the character on the show.

The classic Mr. Potato Head toy has been a super successful line for its manufacturer, Hasbro, since the early 1950s. The set, which usually comes with a plastic potato body and other detachable accessories, first originated with the “Mr.” title, before a “Mrs.” version was introduced a year later. In 2021, Hasbro made the decision to rebrand the toy line as just “Potato Head,” in a bid to “promote gender equality and inclusion.” This was met with a polarizing reception, with some praising the brand for being progressive and others seeing the move as an elaborate PR stunt. The company, however, reassured the general public that the beloved “Mr. & Mrs.” dolls will still be available for purchase.

The Nimbus 2000 is a magical broomstick from the Harry Potter series that’s bestowed upon Harry when he makes it onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team. After appearing in the first film of the franchise, it was designed as a toy and subsequently distributed by Mattel. What was intended as an innocent children’s device began popping up in some adult stores around the world. Why, you ask? Well, for a realistic effect, the faux broomstick was designed to have a vibrating feature and also made flying sounds. Naturally, for a toy that had to go between the legs, that vibrating part didn’t sit quite well with some parents. Following a storm of angry reviews on online stores, it was discontinued by Mattel.

Dive sticks are well-known swimming toys that help children build confidence in the water. These days, they are mostly made of rubber and designed to be flexible enough to bend upon impact. But back in the ‘90s, the gadgets were of hard plastic material that posed a severe impalement risk to multiple children. In 1999, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ordered a recall of about 19 million dive sticks after they received reports of children being injured by the toy. Although there were only seven total injuries reported, the incidents were so serious that some of the children required surgery.

Notable for their widely popular but expensive line of female dolls, the Mattel-owned American Girl found itself embroiled in controversy in 2009. The company, which releases its products with accompanying books detailing the backstories of the characters, introduced a homeless doll named Gwen Thompson. Gwen’s storybook featured a tale about being evicted with her mom after her father abandoned them. The doll’s appearance was praised by some parents for the potential to increase awareness about homelessness among young kids. But with a $95 price tag and the fact that none of the profits were directed towards actually helping people like Gwen, the move drew the ire of many homeless advocates.

Building toys are some of the most beloved by children all around the world. Just ask 2021’s largest toy company… Lego. But just like with construction in real life, there have been a few health hazards with some of the doll forms. RoseArt’s Magnetix construction kit featured plastic building pieces that were designed to be held together by small colorful magnets. These magnets, which were about the size of a pill, caused multiple serious injuries after they were swallowed by children. It unfortunately even led to the death of a 20-month-old boy. The toys were recalled twice by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in a bid to prevent further harm.

From eating, to crying, and even talking, many dolls have been made over the years that mimic human actions. But Berjuan Toys, a Spanish company decided to take things up a notch with Bebé Glotón, a breastfeeding doll. Marketed in the U.S. as the Breast Milk Baby, the set came with a separate bra-like halter top, fitted with two flower-shaped cut-outs that the doll would then “suck” on. While it reportedly was a success in Europe, the Breast Milk Baby was hit with a wave of criticism upon entering the U.S. Many deemed it inappropriate and claimed it could encourage teen pregnancies. Others, including the company, argued that it would promote the totally natural act of breastfeeding, among young children.

Seeking out the next generation of forensic investigators, the makers of the “CSI” franchise released a line of fingerprint toy kits. The set contained replicas of equipment used in collecting DNA evidence, including a fingerprint powder. In 2007, a nonprofit called Environmental Working Group tested this powder and found that it contained up to 7% of Tremolite, a dangerous form of Asbestos. Inhaling this toxic material could drastically increase a child’s risk of developing cancer and mesothelioma later in life. The manufacturer, Planet Toys, claimed to have found no trace of asbestos when they tested the product. Nevertheless, the investigative kits were eventually recalled from stores.

It was a classic case of David vs. Goliath. In 1987, David Snow, an aerospace engineer, lost his young daughter after an accident involving a lawn dart, or Jart, that he had previously purchased. Hoping to ensure that no other parent had to go through the grief he experienced, Snow launched a lobbying campaign to get the Jarts banned from being sold. He appealed to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and had them re-evaluate the estimated number they had on injuries caused by lawn darts. The commission quickly learned that their estimates were only a tiny fraction of the actual figure. Realizing just how much danger they posed, the commission voted to enact a ban on Jarts, prohibiting any further sale of the toy.

CloudPets are a line of adorable teddy bear-like dolls with the catchphrase “A message you can hug!” The stuffed animals connect to a parent’s smartphone through Bluetooth, allowing for audio messages to be sent back and forth. Things seemed to be going on nicely, until 2017, when it was revealed that the toys were targets of a data breach, in which a reported two million messages were leaked. According to Troy Hunt, an Australian security expert who uncovered the breach, a number of security flaws on the part of the manufacturer left users vulnerable to being hacked. The toys were later pulled by multiple retailers, even though the company maintained that no voice recordings were stolen.