Are Funko Pop Toys Safe for Your Collection?
Are Funko Pop Toys Safe?
Funko Pop toys have become a beloved phenomenon among collectors and fans of various franchises. Being made from hard plastic and filled with collectible charm, these toys can certainly raise some safety-related questions. Are they safe to keep in your collection? Can they be given as gifts to children without worries about harm or ingestion? This comprehensive guide delves into the safety aspects of Funko Pop toys.
Constructing Robust Toys
Funko Pop toys are typically made from a type of hollow vinyl plastic. This material is known for its durability, making the toys pretty sturdy and resistant to busting under normal use. If you are worried about these toys breaking easily, it's safe to say that they are indeed built to withstand common mishaps. However, if someone were to intentionally throw one at something or someone, chances are whatever gets hit will likely break first.
Safety for Kids
When considering Funko Pop toys for children, it's important to address the safety concerns directly. Most Funko Pop toys are marketed as collectibles, primarily aimed at teenagers and young adults. Parents looking for toys for their children should take a closer look to ensure the toy is safe for kids. While many Funko Pop toys are designed without issues for children, the MARVEL line, which includes bobbleheads with springs in the neck, presents a special case.
For the MARVEL Pop toys, due to the involvement of HASBRO, these are technically not action figures, thereby avoiding any legal conflicts with HASBRO. When using these as collectibles or gifts for children, parents should exercise discretion. However, if considering giving these to kids, ensure that the toy is visually inspected for any small plastic effect pieces that could pose a risk.
Material Safety and Ingestion Risks
The primary material used in Funko Pop toys, vinyl plastic, is known for its inert nature and lead-free paint finishes. This makes these toys safe from the perspective of material composition. One key safety concern with any toy is the potential for small parts to break off and be ingested. While the head of a Funko Pop is typically too large to be swallowed as a whole, if a small piece were to detach, particularly an accessory, a child could potentially swallow it. Therefore, exercising extreme caution is advised, especially with the MARVEL Pop toys which may contain intricate or fragile parts.
Conclusion: Comprehensive Safety Considerations
In conclusion, while Funko Pop toys are designed to be rugged and durable, they do need some consideration when given to children. The solid design of the material and the relatively large head reduce the risk of choking, but attention should be paid to the details like small plastic pieces that could break off. By understanding the nature of the material and the specific features of different Funko Pop lines, collectors and parents can make informed choices about the toys they want to add to their collections or give to young collectors.