KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Before purchasing that toy on the top of your child’s Christmas list, you may consider reviewing World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc.’s nominees for the 10 worst toys of 2022.

W.A.T.C.H. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about dangerous toys. From choking hazards to chemical-related injuries, W.A.T.C.H. has been monitoring the safety of children’s toys for 50 years in “the hopes of bringing about change and reducing injuries to children,” according to a press release.

Consumer advocates Joan E. Siff, president of W.A.T.C.H., and James A. Swartz, director., emphasized potential safety hazards recently identified on toy store shelves and online, some of which include:

• Coin cell batteries with the potential for ingestion and chemical burn injuries
• Toy weaponry with the potential for blunt force impact injuries
• Plush toys that could lead to infant suffocation

“Shockingly, classic toy dangers, such as small parts, strings, projectiles, toxic substances, rigid materials, and inaccurate warnings and labels, continue to reappear in new generations of toys putting children at risk,” according to the press release.

A 2014 study published in SAGE Journals found that one child is treated in a U.S. emergency room every three minutes for a toy-related injury and children of different ages face different hazards from toys. 

W.A.T.C.H. released a list of toys on Wednesday that appear to contain one or several safety hazards, including:

• Cocomelon Musical Learning Watch: Potential For Battery Ingestion Injuries
• Disney Raya’s Action & Adventure Sword: Potential For Blunt Force and Eye Injuries
• Li’l Woodzeez Tickle-Your-Taste-Buds Bakery: Potential For Choking Injuries
• Black Panther Wakanda Battle Claws: Potential For Eye and Facial Injuries
• Zeus Lion: Potential For Ingestion/Aspiration Injuries
• Dingray Musical Bath Toy: Potential For Ingestion and Choking Injuries
• Ooze Labs Chemistry Station: Potential For Chemical-Related Injuries
• Bunny Rabbit Cuddly Pillow: Potential For Suffocation
• Pop’n Fidget Spinners: Potential For Choking Injuries
• Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic Blasters: Potential For Eye and Facial Injuries

The majority of the products on the list display warning or caution signs on the tags or packaging, which address hazardous concerns, but others do not.

W.A.T.C.H. offers practical tips for identifying hazards so parents and caregivers can learn how to avoid potentially harmful toys, such as:

• Thoroughly inspect a toy and its packaging for safety red flags before giving it to a child
• Become familiar with recent injuries and toy recalls
• Advocacy and awareness about dangerous toys that are sold in retail stores and online