16 Forgotten Toys That Were Actually Terrifying in Hindsight
Recall the excitement of unwrapping new gadgets on birthdays or holidays? Some childhood favorites, however, haven’t stood the test of time.
In hindsight, certain playthings were surprisingly unsafe, hiding risks like choking or harmful chemicals we missed as kids.
It is time to revisit these nostalgic yet unsettling relics from the past.
1. Clackers
Plastic spheres swinging wildly, these captivated me in third grade, until one broke, scattering sharp pieces across the classroom. Popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Clackers featured two acrylic balls on a string that clacked together when swung.
Their tendency to shatter into risky fragments led to eye and skin injuries, prompting their withdrawal.
2. Lawn Darts (Jarts)
Heavy metal spikes thrown through the air? What could go wrong! I still remember the thrill of hurling these weighted missiles skyward at family picnics, completely oblivious to the danger.
These backyard weapons caused thousands of injuries and even worse before being banned in 1988. Essentially javelin practice for children, Jarts featured sharp metal tips that could pierce skulls with alarming ease.
3. Sky Dancers
Whirling dervishes of plastic terror! My sister’s favorite Sky Dancer once launched directly into my forehead, leaving a mark that lasted through picture day.
Pull the string, and these fairy-like dolls would spin rapidly upward on plastic wings. Their unpredictable flight paths made them notorious for causing eye injuries, broken teeth, and even facial lacerations. Hasbro recalled 8.9 million of these flying hazards in 2000.
4. Easy-Bake Oven
Nothing says childhood like cooking with a lightbulb! Grandma gifted me one for my 8th birthday, and I nearly singed off my eyebrows the first week.
While beloved by junior bakers everywhere, these miniature ovens reached temperatures of 350 degrees Fahrenheit and caused numerous burns.
The 2006-2007 models were particularly problematic, with a design that allowed small hands to get caught in the opening, resulting in a major recall.
5. Magnetix
Building intricate structures was fun, unaware my brother risked harm if he swallowed the tiny magnets.
These construction kits used powerful magnets that, if ingested, could cause severe internal damage by attracting through tissue.
After multiple injuries, millions were recalled in 2006.
6. Slip ‘N Slide
Summer slides doubled as risky contraptions; our soapy tarp sent me crashing into a rosebush. These water slides led to neck and spinal injuries when used by older kids or adults.
Inadequate warnings prompted a 1993 recall, restricting use to younger children.
7. Aqua Dots
Crafty beads with a side of coma! My cousin collected these colorful spheres, and we had no clue they were coated in a chemical that metabolized into GHB—yes, the date rape drug.
This popular arts and crafts toy was recalled in 2007 when it was discovered that the coating on the beads contained a chemical that, when ingested, metabolized into gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB).
Several children fell into comas after swallowing the beads, leading to a massive worldwide recall.
8. Mini-Hammocks
My treehouse featured one of these netted nightmares, and looking back, I’m lucky to have survived my afternoon naps.
These seemingly peaceful backyard accessories were responsible for 12 children’s passings by strangulation between 1984 and 1995.
Without spreader bars, the netted design could twist around a child’s neck when they tried to get in or out, creating a serious noose effect.
9. Creepy Crawlers
Third-degree burns never stopped playtime! My brother and I competed to see who could make the grossest bugs, frequently burning our fingers on the metal molds.
This toy oven allowed kids to create rubber insects by pouring “Plastigoop” into metal molds, then baking them at temperatures high enough to cause serious burns.
The original 1960s version had no safety features, while even later models remained hot enough to melt skin along with the goop.
10. Snacktime Cabbage Patch Kid
A doll that munched on snacks, and my ponytail, during a sleepover scare. Released in 1996, its mechanical mouth lacked a shut-off, pulling in hair or fingers relentlessly.
Mattel halted sales after reports of trapped clothing and minor injuries.
11. Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab
A 1950s science kit with real uranium ore, shown in class as a cautionary tale. For $49.50, kids conducted nuclear experiments with a Geiger counter and cloud chamber.
Sold briefly, its hazardous materials led to its swift discontinuation.
12. Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper
Projectile toys that doubled as throat missiles! My cousin’s prized possession shot its nose cone directly into my mouth during an epic space battle.
This 1978 Mattel toy featured a spring-loaded missile that fired with alarming force. After a child had a tragic ending on a similar toy’s projectile, these were quickly recalled.
The missile was small enough to be swallowed but powerful enough to be lodged in a child’s throat.
13. CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit
Solving crimes with a side of asbestos! I played junior detective for months before my parents heard about the recall on the news.
This 2007 crime scene investigation toy contained powder for dusting fingerprints that was found to be contaminated with asbestos.
About 13,000 kits were recalled, but not before children across America had played forensic scientist with a known carcinogen that can cause lung cancer decades after exposure.
14. Rollerblade Barbie
Fashion dolls with lethal accessories! The tiny pink charm on my Rollerblade Barbie’s bracelet became my little brother’s favorite thing to put in his mouth, until we discovered the recall.
In 2007, Mattel recalled over 800,000 of these Barbies after discovering the tiny charm on her bracelet contained dangerous levels of lead.
The charm could easily detach, creating both a choking hazard and potential lead poisoning risk for children who might put it in their mouths.
15. Austin Magic Pistol
A 1940s gun using chemical reactions, my uncle recalls a near-explosion from misused crystals.
Combining calcium carbide and water to shoot ping-pong balls, this toy’s flammable acetylene gas risked burns and fires, making it highly unsafe.
16. Super Elastic Bubble Plastic
Toxic chemicals that expanded into rainbow bubbles! The headaches after blowing these plastic bubbles should have been our first clue something wasn’t right.
This 1970s toy allowed kids to squeeze colored goo onto a straw and blow it into a balloon-like bubble. The secret ingredient? Polyvinyl acetate mixed with acetone, which released toxic vapors directly into children’s lungs as they blew.
The chemical smell was so strong it could cause dizziness, headaches, and nausea.