According to WATCH, the Moon Board Pogo Board isn't too safe without proper safety gear
“It’s that time of year … when the world falls in love every song you hear, seems to say “Merry Christmas, may your new year’s dreams come true!” We’ll that’s not the tune World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH) sings this time of year. During the Holidays, WATCH is singing a tune that has to do with what are the most dangerous toys to avoid. And if you’re a concerned parent, here’s the list of toys you don’t want to see in your kid’s stockings this year and CTs impressions of the warnings.
Wall-E Foam Rocket Launcher
1. Disney-Pixar Wall-E Foam Rocker Launcher: According to WATCH, the Wall-E Foam Rocket is dangerous due to the “potential for eye and other impact injuries.” Oh please. That would include just about any ball or any toy for that matter that can be thrown. And although WATCH claims that the rocket launches at a high rate of speed, it is made of foam and even if it hits a child, it’s large enough to deflect. This warning looks much ado about nothing on its face. Still, for young kids, it’s always important to supervise their play until you’re confident they are smart enough not to point anything that flies at a playmate.
2. Moon Board Pogo Board – subject to similar impact injuries as the Wall-E Rocket Launcher, only we think this one is well deserved. The idea is to squeeze two round balls between your feet until physics takes over and launches you into the air. Well, physics can be a fickle mistress without proper safety gear, and if a kid isn’t fortified with helmet and pads to guard against unexpected directions, a concussion and skinned elbows and knees are sure to result.
Curious George Counting Book
3. Curious Baby George Counting – My First Book of Numbers – how can a book be dangerous? Well, other than the ideas that fill the readers head, this book has a rod like rattle with beads inside which, if dislodged, can represent a choking hazard to its target audience. Better to stick with a Sesame Street Count book, in our view.
4. The Dark Knight Batman Figure – What’s dangerous about the Caped Crusader? Can you believe his ears? According to WATCH, the pointy ears of Batman’s cowl are inflexible in their plastic construction and can actually stab a toddler who may fall upon him. But at $40, it’s more likely the cost will stab mom and dad’s pocketbook. Nothing to see here in our view.
X-Men Origins Slashin' Action
5. X-Men Origins Slashin’ Action Wolverine – The beef WATCH has against one our favorite X-Men is that it’s pop-out claws are made of rigid plastic and could cause a hazard for potential eye injuries. Frankly, we think that it’s more because, as the WATCH site says in it’s first sentence, Wolverine is “is marketed as an “indestructible combat machine.” We wouldn’t give it to a 4 year old, but for kids 5 and above it seems like a fun looking action figure. And at $15, it’s way cheaper than the Dark Knight.
6. Lots to Love Babies Mini Nursery – Marketed for kids as young as 2, this product has small plastic attachments and thin, plastic cords which can easily become a choking hazard. Man, does anyone think about choking before designing stuff like this anymore? This one is more than justified in CTs view.
7. Just Kidz Junior Musical Instruments – barring some wunderkind musical genius, I don’t know of any toddler who isn’t going to use something like the Just Kidz Junior Musical Instrument as anything but a noise maker. The concern though, is that the tiny 4” drumstick can be detached and chocked upon.
8. CAT Rugged Mini – WATCH thinks that the solid metal axel in this toy bulldozer can cause a puncture issue if separated from the chassis. A dull metal rod connected by two oversized tires? We think they’re seeing demons where none exist here. Still, we don’t think it’s a toy that can take the abuse of an 18 month old either.
9. Pucci Pups Maltese – The concern here is that the 35” long leash that this pup comes with can cause a potential for strangulation, and the long fiber like hair can easily be removed by teething babies and choked upon. But the numbers, this one is legit in that industry standard limits string attachments to 12 inches. At three times as long, this is a flagrant violation of that standard.
Spy Gear Viper-Blaster
10. Spy Gear Viper-Blaster – Here’s another crying foul where little exists if proper precautions are used. The Viper Blaster shoots darts with, according to WATCH, enough force to cause eye injury. Technically, that’s probably true, so concerned parents should pick up a pair of safety classes and use them a stocking stuffer to boot. But we think that WATCH has an issue still with gun toys, which the Viper Blaster clearly is. And it makes us wonder why NERF’s NStrike series didn’t make the cut. Nothing to see here.