1. Lawn Darts
If you grew up in the ’70s or ’80s, there’s a good chance you remember lawn darts. These weren’t the soft, rounded versions we sometimes see today. No, these were heavy, metal-tipped darts that you hurled through the air, often while other kids were running around nearby. They were marketed as a wholesome family game, but they caused thousands of injuries.
It’s almost shocking that they were sold in toy aisles considering how sharp and dangerous they were. Parents at the time shrugged it off as just part of outdoor fun, but hospital records tell a different story. By the late ’80s, they were banned in the U.S. after several fatalities. Nowadays, the idea of handing kids weighted missiles and telling them to toss them across the yard feels completely unthinkable.
2. Easy-Bake Oven
The Easy-Bake Oven was every little chef’s dream, letting kids bake tiny cakes with a light bulb. It sounded harmless enough, but in reality those little ovens got extremely hot. Some kids ended up with serious burns on their hands from trying to pull their creations out too soon.
Parents thought they were encouraging creativity, but they were really giving kids a heat source capable of causing injuries. Over the years, recalls were issued for certain models after reports of children getting fingers stuck inside the oven’s opening. While the toy is still around today, it’s been redesigned to be far safer. The original versions, though, make us wonder how any of us escaped childhood without scars.
3. Clackers
Clackers were those acrylic balls on strings that you swung up and down until they smacked together. The sound was satisfying, but the danger was real. If you weren’t careful, they’d smack into your wrists or face, leaving bruises. Worse, the balls themselves had a tendency to shatter mid-swing, sending shards of hard plastic flying everywhere.
Parents thought they were just noisy toys, but ER doctors saw plenty of clacker-related injuries. They were eventually taken off the market because of the safety risks. Looking back, it seems obvious that swinging heavy plastic balls at high speed wasn’t the best idea. But for a while, kids loved them—despite the bruises and broken lamps.
4. Creepy Crawlers Thingmaker
This was a toy that let kids “cook” rubbery bugs in metal molds using a special heating element. It was basically like handing a child a hot plate and telling them to play with it. The liquid goop you poured into the molds was heated to very high temperatures, often resulting in burns.
Parents liked the idea of kids making their own toys, but in practice it was an accident waiting to happen. Some kids even got sick from fumes if they used the toy in poorly ventilated rooms. Today, no company would dream of marketing something that required kids to use an open heating coil. But in its heyday, Creepy Crawlers felt like magic—just a very risky kind of magic.
5. Slip ’N Slide
On a hot summer day, nothing beat setting up a Slip ’N Slide in the backyard. The concept was simple: a long strip of plastic, some water, and kids diving onto it with reckless abandon. But the truth is, it was never particularly safe. Kids often came away with scrapes, bruises, or even concussions if they landed wrong.
The bigger risk came for older children or adults, whose weight and size made the landings more dangerous. There were reports of spinal cord injuries when people slid headfirst into the ground. Despite that, the toy stayed popular for decades, mostly because parents figured “what’s the worst that could happen?” Turns out, quite a lot.
6. Chemistry Sets
Vintage chemistry sets weren’t the mild, kid-friendly versions you see today. These kits often came with real chemicals that could cause burns or toxic reactions if handled carelessly. Some even contained ingredients like uranium or highly flammable powders. Parents were essentially giving their kids mini science labs with little to no safety guidance.
At the time, it was seen as a way to inspire curiosity and learning. But in practice, plenty of children ended up inhaling fumes, starting small fires, or staining their skin. Regulations eventually forced manufacturers to tone these kits down significantly. Nowadays, they’re mostly harmless, but the old-school versions were like handing your kid a ticket to chaos.
7. BB Guns
Marketed as a step up from toy guns, BB guns gave kids the feeling of having a “real” firearm. Unfortunately, they also carried very real risks. BBs could cause serious eye injuries, and there were countless reports of kids accidentally shooting each other during play.
Despite the risks, BB guns were often given as holiday gifts, especially to boys. Parents thought it was a harmless rite of passage, but safety groups strongly disagreed. Today, most parents are far more cautious about introducing kids to anything that fires projectiles. Looking back, it’s surprising how casually they were handed out.
8. Battlestar Galactica Missile-Firing Toys
In the late ’70s, toy tie-ins for Battlestar Galactica included action figures and spaceships with spring-loaded missiles. The problem? Those tiny plastic missiles were choking hazards. Several children swallowed them, and tragically, there were fatal cases.
The outcry led to recalls and stricter safety regulations around projectile toys. While kids loved the realism of pressing a button and watching a missile fly, parents quickly realized the danger. It’s one of those toys that’s remembered fondly by collectors today, but at the time it was a wake-up call for the entire toy industry.
9. The Gilbert Glass Blowing Set
This one sounds like a parody, but it was real. In the 1960s, kids could buy a kit that let them practice actual glass blowing. The set came with tubes and instructions, basically encouraging children to heat glass over a flame and try shaping it. Unsurprisingly, burns and cuts were common.
It’s hard to believe a toy company ever thought this was safe. Even adults take precautions when working with molten glass, but back then, it was marketed as a fun science activity. These days, you’d need special training and protective gear to even attempt it. The idea that kids once did it on the kitchen table is almost unbelievable.
10. Toy Cap Guns with Realistic Looks
Cap guns were everywhere for decades, letting kids pretend to be cowboys or cops. The sound and smell of the caps made the experience feel authentic. But the problem was, the guns themselves looked incredibly real. In some cases, police mistook them for actual firearms, leading to tragic outcomes.
Another issue was that the caps themselves could cause burns or small fires if misused. Kids sometimes lit them in piles just for fun, not realizing the risks. Modern versions are brightly colored to prevent confusion, but back then, they were nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. It’s one of those toys that seemed innocent until it wasn’t.
11. Jarts Pool Game
Not to be confused with regular lawn darts, there were also pool versions. The idea was to throw weighted darts into floating rings on the water. The danger was obvious: sharp projectiles plus slippery pool decks equaled a lot of accidents. Kids sometimes got hit in the head or face while swimming.
Parents may have thought it was safer than the yard version, but it wasn’t. The combination of water and running around only made injuries more likely. Looking back, it feels like an unnecessary twist on an already risky toy. These days, pool toys are usually inflatable and soft for good reason.
12. Mini Hammocks
They weren’t technically toys, but mini hammocks were marketed to kids as fun backyard hangouts. The problem was, they didn’t always come with spreader bars to keep them open. Children could easily become tangled in the ropes, and tragically, there were several cases of strangulation.
At first, parents saw them as a cute addition to outdoor play. But after enough accidents, recalls were issued and safety campaigns began warning families. Modern hammocks have far stricter guidelines to prevent this kind of hazard. It’s a haunting reminder that even something as innocent as lounging outside could turn dangerous.