"Perfect gift for that child you hate:" Parents warning others about popular new toy called 'Bunchems'

MILWAUKEE -- A popular new toy has some parents warning others -- because it's wreaking havoc on kids' hair.

The toy is called "Bunchems" and involves brightly colored balls that are about the size of a quarter. They are covered with soft, squishy spikes -- and the balls lock together to build shapes -- sort of like LEGOS.

Parents have taken to Amazon -- writing reviews of the product.

One parent wrote:

"Horrible, horrible, horrible toy for kids. I just spent the last TWO AND A HALF hours (absolutley, 100 percent not an exaggeration) attempting to remove 14 of these bastard balls out of my daughter's hair. Buy this toy for someone if you hate them or their child. They are the most incredible choking hazards on the planet. They bring pain and misery, tears, fighting, broken and ripped hair, and questions of one's sanity in handling life in general. I can't feel my arms now after attempting to pull this spawn from hell "toy" that matted itself into her hair like nothing ever witnessed before. The photo is her hair with conditioner coating the balls in what proved to be an almost fruitless effort to exract the evil. If you wish to proceed, good luck."

Another parent wrote: "Whoever invented this is evil!"

Each Bunchems packet contains 370 Bunchems, an instruction manual and 36 accessories -- like eyes, sunglasses and hats.

Spin Master, the company that manufactures the toy, has responded to the criticism, even launching a video showing how to remove Bunchems from hair.




According to The Wall Street Journal, the toy is on Target's top holiday gifts.

But some parents warn Bunchems are the "perfect gift for that child you hate."