Parents Beware: These Holiday Toys Are Injuring Kids And They’re Being Sold in Connecticut Stores

Before you hit “Add to Cart,” Connecticut parents are being urged to double-check their holiday shopping lists. A new report has flagged several popular toys, including AI companions, e-bikes, and other top sellers, as potentially dangerous, and many are already showing up in local stores.

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Each year, consumer-safety experts release a list of products that pose surprising risks to children, known as the "Trouble in Toyland" report published by the ConnPIRG Education Fund. But this year’s lineup is, according to advocates, “one of the most concerning in a decade.” Why? Because the hot trend in 2025 — smart, talking, interactive toys — also comes with unpredictable behaviors and unintended dangers.

One of those toys is FAKE Labubu dolls, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC). Check out the reason why.

Some AI-powered toys marketed as “safe play companions” have allegedly given children inappropriate advice, accessed online content without parental approval, and, in one documented test, steered kids toward objects no toy should be recommending. Meanwhile, sleek new e-bikes marketed for young riders have been linked to battery overheating, high-speed accidents, and structural issues that most buyers wouldn’t spot until it’s too late.

And here’s the part CT parents need to know: these products are already appearing in Danbury, Brookfield, Waterbury, Milford, and across Fairfield County. Many families assume that if a toy is on a shelf or a popular shopping site, it must have passed all safety checks — but that’s not always the case.

Experts recommend parents slow down their shopping just long enough to verify:
• Has the toy been recalled?
• Does it contain AI functions or connectivity you weren’t aware of?
• Is it age-appropriate for your child?
• Are there serious safety complaints online?

This year’s gift-giving should be joyful — not risky. Before wrapping anything, Connecticut parents should take a close look at this year’s list of the most dangerous holiday toys… and think twice before bringing them home.