23 Bestselling Toys from the ’80s That Are Now Recalled for Safety Risks
When we remember our childhood, we fondly remember the games we played and the toys we owned. However, it may surprise many that some of the toys we grew up with came with multiple safety risks. Toys came in all shapes and sizes, and some were more practical. However, some toys that we loved had the potential to cause harm to someone, which we may not have realized as children. These are some of the bestselling toys from the ‘80s that are now recalled for safety risks:
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Pogo Balls
Pogo balls were popular toys in the 1980s. They consisted of an inflatable ball with a plastic disc around it, produced by toy manufacturers as an alternative to the classic Pogo stick. Although the toy was a bestseller, it had many faults concerning its design that caused many children to have accidental injuries, causing multiple safety concerns for parents and caregivers. Pogo balls were eventually recalled because of their safety risks and the loss of popularity among children with the turn of the new decade.
Slap Bracelets
Invented in the early years of the 1980s, Slap Bracelets remained a bestseller for a long time after they were launched. Slap Bracelets had flexible metal insides covered with colorful fabric designs on the outside that could wrap around the wrists and function as a bracelet. Although popular among many children, these toys also had multiple safety risks. The insides of the bracelets were often too sharp and cut the skin of the children who played with them, leaving them with avoidable injuries. This eventually led to the toys being recalled.
Lawn Darts
Lawn darts existed way before the 1980s, but they made it to this list because they were banned later in the decade. Although these darts were beloved by many and allowed for fun family time, they also had the potential to injure children seriously. These darts had sharp metal tips and a feather-like end used to throw at targets. However, a misplaced throw would be responsible for serious injuries leading to their eventual ban.
Skip-It
Skip-It was a popular toy that was attached to someone’s ankle with a plastic hoop that could spin in circles as the person who wore it skipped it. Many children enjoyed this toy, and parents encouraged it since it helped to promote good cardio health. However, long periods of wearing the toy led to bruises and swollen ankles, which caused children aches and pains and, in some cases, even difficulty walking. The toys were eventually recalled because of the potential safety risks they caused.
Big Wheels
Big Wheels were motorized toy bikes that gave children the feeling of riding a real motorcycle. The bike had an “on” switch that later caused many problems. It had a tendency to overheat or get stuck, which could cause burns or even prevent children from being able to stop the bike. The risks of the bike were too high, and it had to be recalled as concerns for the children’s safety grew.
Snacktime Cabbage Patch Kids
Cabbage Patch Kids were beloved toys of many people who grew up in the 80s and 90s, leading to the toy manufacturers releasing various versions. The Snacktime Cabbage Patch Kids were dolls that could eat plastic toy snacks with the help of their battery-powered and mechanical jaws. Although the toys helped children have a good time, they also had safety risks, like chewing on the children’s fingers and hair. They were later recalled in the late 90s.
Metal Playgrounds
Playgrounds in the 1980s were usually built with metal slides, jungle gyms, teeter-totters, etc. These playgrounds offered many children fun times, and fond memories were later replaced with materials with fewer safety risks. The metal in the playgrounds could lead to severe injuries caused by accidents and falls. Phasing out of the metal playgrounds was necessary to ensure that children had safe playgrounds that would not cause severe injuries in case of accidents.
Wham-O Slip N’ Slide
Slip n’ Slides were popular water-themed devices brought out on hot days. Children could hurl themselves onto the slides and slip down them with water running through them. These devices offered a lot of fun for children but also had major safety concerns, leading to many hospitalizations if not used cautiously. Although these devices still exist today, they come with multiple warnings on how to use them with precaution.
Garbage Pail Kids
Garbage Pail Kids were popular, trendy trading cards among many adolescents who grew up in the 1980s. The cards included various disturbing images that raised concerns among parents and caretakers. The manufacturer of these cards eventually faced pressure from schools and parents and had to stop the production of the trading cards. In addition to the disturbing imagery on the cards, the manufacturer was also sued for copyright and trademark infringement.
Steve the Tramp
Steve the Tramp is a depiction of a popular Dick Tracy villain in the form of an action figure. Nothing was wrong with the toy, but the packaging featured images and passages that received much backlash. Many people disagreed with the messages on the packaging, leading the manufacturer to recall the toy eventually. It did not have any physical safety risks, but the words used portrayed homeless people in a negative light, leading to certain levels of social and mental risks.
Racer Slides
The metal playgrounds of the 1980s were filled with racer slides, which allowed children to slide down tall and slim metal slides that gave them speed and often injurious landings. These slides could also cause burns on hot and sunny days, as the metal would heat up and become a hazard to all the children who slid down them. The racer slides were eventually replaced with slides with fewer safety concerns while ensuring that children still had fun.
Big Bird Trike
As a famous and beloved character from Sesame Street, Big Bird had his toy, consisting of a bird figurine on a blue and green tricycle. The toy was sold between 1989 and 1990 and was soon recalled when it was discovered that the tiny screws under Big Bird’s feet that held him in place could be easily removed and presented as choking hazards when separated from the rest of the toy. The toy’s risks were too high and had to be stopped from further production.
Wrestling Action Figures
Professional wrestling grew in popularity in the 80s, and toy manufacturers began making figurines and action figures of the famous wrestlers of the time. Many children enjoyed having an action figure representing their favorite wrestler, but the action figures had multiple flaws. The arms and legs of the toys could not be moved, and often, the wire under the rubber exteriors of the figurines would get exposed, leading to severe cuts. The toys were eventually discontinued.
Hang 10 Mini Hammocks
The Hang 10 Mini Hammocks were popular for a short period. Parents or caregivers would tie the ends of the hammocks and allow children to sit or sleep in them. However, these hammocks came with fatal dangers. Children could get tangled in them, even causing asphyxiation in extreme cases. These hammocks were rightfully recalled in the mid-1990s owing to the dangers they presented to children.
Ker-Bangers
Ker-Bangers is a children’s toy consisting of plastic balls that were slammed together to help develop hand-eye coordination. These toys were trendy from the 1960s to the early 1980s. However, the plastic polymer used to make the balls was very prone to shattering, with plastic shards flying everywhere and potentially into the children’s eyes. The cons of the ker-bangers outweighed the pros, and they were recalled in the mid-1980s to prevent unwanted accidents.
Princess Telephones
Children often liked to mimic their parents, and the Princess Telephones allowed them to mimic their parents’ phone calls. These telephones were sold in the late 1980s, came in multiple colors, and were four and a half inches long. The materials used to make the components of the telephones were not sturdy and would easily break off, causing choking hazards to younger children. The telephones were recalled after the safety of the children grew, and precautions had to be taken.
Glo Worms
Glo Worms look like soft, cuddly stuffed toys that any child would enjoy owning. However, it was discovered that dangerous chemicals were used to soften the plastic head of the toy to give it that soft and cuddly feel. These chemicals were considered harmful when ingested, and because young children often put their toys in their mouths, the Glo Worms were extremely dangerous and had to be recalled.
Playmobil Happy Meal Toys
Happy Meal Toys were trendy among children who looked forward to having a McDonald’s meal to get their hands on free toys. The major food chain made a deal with Playmobil to make western-themed toys as part of their Happy Meals. The food chain later recalled the Playmobil Happy Meal Toys when it became evident that these toys were a choking hazard to younger children.
Power Wheels Porsche 911
Fisher released the Power Wheels Porsche 911 as a part of their line of motorized toy cars for their children. This toy car became very popular among children in the 80s. It was later discovered that the cars had a defective pedal that did not work when children wanted to stop the car. This led to the toy cars being recalled and discontinued in the early 90s, which shocked many people owing to how popular the cars were.
Evil Scowlene
Scowlene was a popular villain from an 80s cartoon series that was made into a figurine that children could collect alongside figurines of other characters from the show. Although the toy had no physical safety risks, it had features that would scare children and potentially affect their mental health. It did not sell as well as other figurines from the show and was stopped from production.
Sesame Street Rhythm Band Set
Sesame Street was a popular children’s TV show with some of the most iconic characters from our childhood. The series released its own toys, including a band set that was initially released to the public in the 1980s. The first run of the band set was recalled after it was discovered that parts of it would easily detach and become potential choking hazards for young children. The set was later re-released with sturdier pieces.
JSNY Dress-Me Clown
The JSNY Dress-Me Clown is a toy clown that children can dress up and style differently. They were sold through mail-order catalogs in the latter half of the 80s. These clowns had to be recalled with the turn of the new decade as it was found that many parts of the clown’s clothes constituted choking hazards for young children. To avoid any unwanted incidents, the toys were recalled.
Color ‘N Contrast Busy Box
The Color ‘N Contrast Busy Box was an activity center for children manufactured by Playskool in 1989. It consisted of multiple devices that children could play with to keep themselves entertained. Although it was an innocent toy, it was discovered that the paint on the printed logo exceeded the limits set for lead content, which was a serious hazard for children. The activity center had to be recalled to prevent any serious health issues.
18 Classic Movie Quotes That Would Spark Outrage If Said in Today’s Films
Whether or not you are a movie buff, you’re probably familiar with the famous classic movies that shaped generations. Classic movies often contain iconic lines that have become ingrained in popular culture. However, as we look back, we realize how some of these quotes were downright racist, sexist, or misogynistic and have not aged well with time. Here are 24 classic movie quotes that, if said in today’s films, would likely spark outrage and controversy.
