According to the most recent report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), released in November 2024, toy-related injuries remain a serious concern for American families. In 2023, an estimated 231,700 toy-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments. Of those, approximately 72 percent involved children younger than 15 years of age, 67 percent involved children under 13, and 36 percent involved children younger than five.
While the overall number of injuries has remained relatively stable compared to 2018 (when the CPSC reported 226,100 estimated injuries), there is good news on one front: toy-related deaths have dropped significantly. The CPSC reported 10 toy-related deaths among children in 2023, down from 17 in 2018.
The holiday season continues to be a particularly dangerous time when it comes to toys and child safety. World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.) released its 2025 nominees for the 10 worst toys in November 2025, marking the organization's 53rd year of urging parents to consider safety when buying presents.
CPSC Reports on Toy-Related Injuries and Fatalities in 2023
The 10 toy-related deaths reported in 2023 were caused by four primary hazard categories:
- Choking on small balls or crayons
- Drowning associated with flotation toys
- Entrapment inside toy chests
- Ingestion of water beads, a newer hazard that has drawn increasing attention from safety regulators
Non-motorized scooters were by far the most injury-prone toy category, accounting for more than one in five toy-related injuries across all age groups, with an estimated 53,000 injuries in 2023 alone.
The most common types of injuries were lacerations, followed by contusions and abrasions. Fractures ranked third overall. For children younger than five, contusions/abrasions and internal injuries were the second and third most common injury types, respectively.
On the enforcement side, the CPSC and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized nearly 1.6 million dangerous or illegal toys in fiscal year 2024, including nearly 101,900 toys flagged for excessive lead content. The CPSC has warned that as e-commerce expands, the agency faces increasing challenges ensuring products sold online meet U.S. safety standards.
W.A.T.C.H. Names the 10 Worst Toys of 2025
W.A.T.C.H. lists the following as the most dangerous toys of 2025 and suggests parents think twice before bringing these home:
- Goo Slingers: potential for eye injuries from stretchy, slingshot-like projectiles.
- Marvel Avengers Hulk Gamma Smash Fists: promotes "smashing" play that can lead to blunt force and impact injuries.
- Shape Sorter Xylophone: includes small blocks and a long drumstick that can be swallowed or inhaled, posing ingestion and choking hazards.
- Nerf Pro Gelfire Ignitor Blaster: fires high-velocity gel pellets that pose a risk of eye injuries.
- Gigglescape Snack Play Set: contains miniature food pieces and utensils that present ingestion and puncture hazards.
- Sheepdog Puppet: contains long fibers that may shed and become an ingestion hazard for young children.
- Snackles: Disney Minnie: soft plush toy labeled for ages 0+, but carries suffocation risks.
- Little Cuties Doll: features a removable corded headband that poses a choking hazard.
- Ultimate Makeup Kit: may contain chemical ingredients linked to allergic reactions.
- Blox Fruits Ember Dragon Ultimate Bundle: rigid dragon case with sharp horns that can cause impact and puncture injuries.
How Parents Can Increase Toy Safety
The CPSC and child safety organizations recommend these steps to reduce the risk of toy-related injuries:
- Read the label. Check the warning labels, instructions, and age recommendations. Look for any small pieces that may present a choking hazard, and verify that toys carry U.S. safety compliance labels.
- Get a helmet. If you're getting something the child will ride on, such as a bike, scooter, skateboard, skis, or snowboard, make sure you get a helmet to go with it. Non-motorized scooters alone accounted for more than 53,000 injuries in 2023.
- Put toys away. Consider using a toy chest for toy storage, and teach children to put their toys away after playing with them so they aren't sitting around where they can cause injury. Be aware that toy chests themselves have been linked to entrapment deaths; choose chests with ventilation holes and lightweight lids or no lids at all.
- Check product recalls. Safe Kids compiles product recalls and sends monthly email alerts. Parents can sign up here. You can also check CPSC.gov/Recalls directly. Remember that recalls don't expire, so check before buying secondhand toys as well.
- Buy from trusted sellers. With the growth of online marketplaces, the CPSC has emphasized the importance of purchasing from reputable sellers. Inspect toys upon arrival for defects, loose parts, and choking hazards.
- Watch for water beads. Water beads, which expand significantly when wet, have been linked to child deaths from ingestion. Keep them away from young children entirely.
