While fidget spinners may be all the rage over here, a completely different (and dangerous) "toy" has become very popular in China.
China has just announced a ban on the controversial toothpick crossbow which shoots out toothpicks.
Concerned parents had been pressing for a ban after it was revealed some kids had been loading them with needles and other sharp metal objects which could result in serious injury.
One parent told China’s Xinhua news agency: "This is more a time-bomb than a toy." The crossbow costs as little as five yuan or 57 pence.
Now raids have been carried out across toy shops by Chinese authorities to remove the crossbow from shelves, according to Sky News.
Toothpick Crossbow: What They Are, How They Work and Safety Concerns. #ToothpickCrossbow https://t.co/3QsMTTVdut pic.twitter.com/LrWyxoWpnX
— LiveScienceTech (@LiveScienceTech) June 29, 2017
An official said the toy had "vanished from shelves almost as fast as it emerged".
An unnamed inspector from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce was quoted as saying: "Kids are being watched by parents and teachers. Playing with such a toy will not be tolerated. It is too dangerous."
Xinhua report that the crossbows are no longer for sale online either and added only one injury had been reported in connection with the device across the whole country.
It’s the second time a popular toy has come under scrutiny this year. Recently a mum expressed her concerns about fidget spinners after one caught fire in her home.
Ok, this toothpick crossbow does kinda look unsafe to pass as a children's toy https://t.co/8pW1TDXHCK pic.twitter.com/zsASZ0X4BK
— Bibek Bhandari (@bibekbhandari) June 20, 2017
Michelle Carr told NBC that she bought her kids fidget spinners and used one herself to distract herself from smoking.
However, she was horrified to walk into her kitchen and find her fidget spinner was on fire. "The fidget spinner was on fire on my counter,” she said.
Michelle’s fidget spinner was slightly different to the classic toy - this one had Bluetooth and required charging.
"Hooks up to your phone... your Bluetooth, so you can play your music, so you can still spin it, it lights up and plays your music all at the same time," she explained.
"It's the same cord I use for my baby monitor, and I just had it plugged in like this, and it was laying right here on fire," she said.
She says she won’t be buying a fidget spinner again.
“I personally won't buy another one because of the fear of it," she said. "But I know there are tonnes of kids who want to go get them.
But if you plug them in, just stay by and make sure it's charged and it doesn't catch fire.”
What do you think of these safety fears mums? Let us know your thoughts.
