The Most Dangerous Toys of 2023, According to Doctors

As you stare at that long list of toys your little one wants for Christmas, be aware there are some things kids shouldn’t receive this holiday, no matter how much they want it.

As you gaze upon that sprawling list of toys your tot desires for Christmas, know there are some items kids shouldn’t receive this holiday, no matter the level of their pleas.

In 2023, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission unveiled its report on deaths and injuries related to toys, revealing there were roughly 231,700 emergency department visits, mainly concerning children. Last year alone, at least 10 children under 14 perished in toy-related incidents.

While no toy can guarantee complete safety, some inherently carry more danger than others. Doctors specializing in emergency medicine, especially with children, shared their top picks for toys that shouldn’t wind up beneath the Christmas tree this year.

Button or coin batteries

A multitude of contemporary toys utilize small, disk-shaped batteries or lithium coin batteries to operate.

These batteries pose a choking hazard and can inflict life-threatening injuries within the esophagus and gastrointestinal tract, pediatricians explained to Today.com, among them being pediatric surgeon Dr. Shawn Stafford, who deemed these batteries “very dangerous.”

E-scooters and hoverboards

Each holiday season, we're graced with social media videos showcasing families embarking on clumsy first encounters with new e-scooters or hoverboards. These videos elicit laughter, yet the reality can be far more perilous.

Pediatric emergency physician Dr. Meghan Martin disclosed to Today.com that she has treated numerous children for injuries sustained from these devices, even attending to seven hoverboard injuries on a single Christmas morning.

If you insist on purchasing one of these for a family member, ensure they utilize the proper safety gear, including a helmet, elbow and knee pads, and wrist guards.

Toys with small parts

For parents of young children, especially those under 5, avoiding toys with small parts is paramount.

According to the CPSC, half of all toy-related deaths in children last year stemmed from choking or asphyxiation after ingesting a small part.

“One thing I tell parents is never give a child 3 years or younger anything that is smaller or fits through a toilet roll tube,” Saffordsaid.

Trampolines

Trampolines offer a thrilling addition to any backyard, but they also come bearing the promise of potential injuries.

“We see a lot of forearm injuries, leg injuries and other injuries,” Martinsaid, adding that these include broken bones, sprains, lacerations, concussions and spinal cord injuries.

If a trampoline features in your gifting plans this year, prioritize one enclosed in a safety net or consider an in-ground version. Whichever route you take, ensure a parent closely supervises and monitors the number of simultaneous users.

Knockoffs

Christmas can be financially demanding, making it challenging to acquire name-brand versions of every toy on your child’s wishlist. However, in your search for alternatives, be wary of knockoffs that fail to meet safety standards.

According to Today, toys that have successfully met federal safety standards will bear a small "ASTM" designation somewhere on their packaging or box. ASTM stands for American Society of Testing and Materials.

When purchasing toys online, exercise extra vigilance to avoid bringing toys into your home that contain lead paint, toxic chemicals or an excessive number of loose parts.