The 70s and 80s were a wild time for toy manufacturers, where fun often outweighed safety. From sharp projectiles to toxic materials, here are 30 nostalgic yet dangerous toys that would never pass today’s safety standards.

1. Lawn Darts (Jarts)

These heavy metal darts were thrown high into the air, aiming for ground targets, right near children. Unsurprisingly, they caused numerous injuries and even fatalities before being banned.

2. Clackers

Made from hard acrylic, these balls would smack together at high speeds, often shattering and sending shards flying. Many kids ended up with bruises, cuts, or worse.

3. Creepy Crawlers ThingMaker

This toy let kids pour liquid plastic into hot metal molds to create rubbery bugs. The heating element reached dangerously high temperatures, leading to severe burns.

4. Battlestar Galactica Missile-Firing Toys

Some of these action figures and ships shot small plastic missiles that posed a serious choking hazard. At least one child died, which led to a recall and redesign.

5. Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab

This “educational” kit actually contained small amounts of radioactive materials. It was marketed to kids curious about nuclear science—what could go wrong?

6. Snacktime Cabbage Patch Kid

These dolls had motorized jaws to "eat" plastic snacks, but they didn’t know when to stop. Children’s fingers and hair got painfully caught in their mouths.

7. Sky Dancers

These flying fairy dolls launched into the air with spinning wings. But the uncontrolled flight often led them crashing into kids' faces and eyes.

8. Easy-Bake Oven (1970s version)

The early models had exposed heating elements and narrow openings. Children’s fingers were often burned or trapped inside.

9. Kenner’s Alien Action Figure

Based on the R-rated movie Alien, this 18-inch toy was far too terrifying and complex for young kids. It had sharp teeth and a spring-loaded jaw, making it both inappropriate and hazardous.

10. Slap Bracelets

These seemingly harmless fashion statements had a metal strip inside that would break through the fabric. When broken, the sharp metal edge could cut children.

11. CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit

Sold in the 2000s but with an 80s-style flair, this kit contained asbestos in its fingerprint powder. It was recalled after parents discovered the shocking ingredient.

12. Johnny Reb Cannon

This toy cannon shot hard plastic cannonballs over 30 feet. Aimed the wrong way, it could do serious damage.

13. Fisher-Price Power Wheels (Early Models)

The early electric ride-on vehicles had little in the way of speed control or battery safety. Fires and rollovers weren’t uncommon.

14. Pogo Balls

A ball surrounded by a plastic platform that kids stood on to bounce, until they flew off and broke an arm. Stability was not its strong suit.

15. Moon Shoes

These mini trampolines strapped to your feet made for a fun yet hazardous experience. Twisted ankles and falls were almost guaranteed.

16. Mad Science Kits

These chemistry sets included real chemicals, some of which were flammable or toxic. Safety gear was optional, and goggles rarely fit.

17. Stretch Armstrong

Though fun to stretch and twist, the gel inside could leak out and irritate skin or eyes. And once punctured, it was a sticky mess.

18. Big Wheel Tricycles (Original Design)

These low-riding plastic trikes were fun but invisible to cars in driveways. Lack of visibility and no brakes led to many driveway accidents.

19. Water Wiggle

This toy attached to a garden hose and whipped around uncontrollably. It caused facial injuries and even one fatality.

20. Super Elastic Bubble Plastic

Kids used a straw to blow plastic solution into balloons, releasing strong chemical fumes. Inhaling the vapors could cause dizziness or nausea.

21. Zulu Blowgun

A toy blowgun that shot darts with needle-like tips. It was basically a homemade weapon marketed as a game.

22. Wham-O Air Blaster

This toy shot powerful bursts of air that could knock over objects, or injure someone at close range. It wasn’t always used responsibly.

23. Rocket Firing Boba Fett

This Star Wars figure originally had a spring-loaded rocket, later removed due to choking concerns. Only prototypes exist, and they’re worth thousands today.

24. Space Hoppers

These giant inflatable balls with handles encouraged wild bouncing. Falls, head injuries, and twisted limbs were all part of the fun.

25. Plastic Sword and Shield Sets

These toys were often made from sharp-edged plastic that broke easily. Once broken, the jagged pieces were dangerous in rough play.

26. Super Elastic Bubble Plastic

Arriving in 1970, this trippy-colored goo allowed kids to blow large plastic bubbles with a provided straw — think bubble gum meets chemical plant. The problem was that the goop released nasty chemical fumes, caused dizziness, headaches, and chemical burns, and was dangerously flammable.

27. Dip-a-Flower

Dip-a-Flower kits were supposed to be a wholesome craft project. In reality, they gave kids a stick, a pool of chemical sludge, and a prayer. You’d twist a wire into a flower shape and dip it into the colorful resin, hoping it hardened before the fumes knocked you out.

28. Disc-o-Punch

The Disc-o-Punch was basically a plastic gun that fired little frisbee discs across the room at alarming speeds. It sounded harmless until you took one to the mouth mid-sentence.

29. Wham-O Slip N’ Slide

These popular water-themed devices were made to look like a blast in commercials, but the reality was much more painful. The Slip N’ Slide required users to hurl themselves onto their fronts, usually on very hard ground, and it was discovered that this was extremely dangerous for teens and adults, as spinal injuries could occur.

30. Shrinky Dinks (with Dangerous Ovens)

Shrinky Dinks were a crafty kid’s dream: you’d color on thin sheets of plastic, then pop them in the oven to shrink and harden into miniature versions of your creations. The concept was innocent enough, but the execution often came with risks.