Dangerous toys

Many toys are capable of causing physical injury to children. Some may also cause psychological damage. (Examples are: do-it-yourself guillotine kit, simulated human organs dripping with gore, make believe hypodermic needles, and games involving killing and wounding). Toys simulating weapons of modern warfare may orient the children to the acceptability of war as a method of resolving conflict, thus influencing their actions as adults and their attitude to foreigners. Realistic toy guns have been mistaken for real guns resulting in death or bodily harm.

Some PVC toys, such as rattles, dummies, teething rings and similar toys which babies suck on or bite, are softened with phthalates, which can have harmful effects once mixed with saliva and swallowed by children.