If you’ve ever examined one of your Lego figures, you may have noticed that it has a hole in its head. This isn’t a faulty Lego piece, as all of the Lego heads made in recent years have holes in them. The hole on the Lego heads has a specific reason for being there.
Taking a look through a package of Lego figures, you may notice that hats and accessories attach to the hole on their heads. But did you know that the hole on the Lego head is a safety feature? In case a child swallowed the Lego head, the hole makes it so they are still able to breathe.
The hole turns the Lego head into a tube shape so it doesn’t cut off their breathing if a child swallows it. On this page, we’re going to discuss the holes in Lego heads, why they are important, and what you should know about them. Keep reading to learn more.
When Did Lego Start Putting Holes in Heads?
The mold for Lego heads to have holes in them was first introduced in 1991. In the late 1980’s it was discovered that the design of the Lego heads being produced were choking hazards. While there were no regulations forcing Lego to change the design, the company chose to work with new molds to make the items safer for children.
Before this design came out, the heads were a solid stud design. Lego has not confirmed if there was a set incident that made them change the design or if they realized it was a choking hazard from doing more research. However, in an act to make the Lego heads safer for children who put small objects in their mouth and nose, Lego made a safer design.
The heads to Lego figures were first introduced in 1978. Once the new molds were introduced in 1991, Lego started using them and was able to introduce a new line of Lego heads that hit the market by 1992. These heads were still the same shape, but instead of being solid, the design was hollow.
How Can You Tell if a Lego Head Is Real?
There’s one very easy way to tell if a Lego head is real or not. That’s by looking for the official Lego stamp on its head. A real Lego hard will have a copyright logo stamped on the top of the head and beneath it. However, this stamp is incredibly tiny, which makes it hard to notice at first glance.
You may need to get a magnifying glass to confirm it’s there. While this won’t be a problem if you buy the Lego new from a store, it can be a concern if you are purchasing used Legos. Counterfeit Lego minifigs have become more common over the years, leaving collectors feeling weary about what they purchase.
Another good way to spot a real head from a fake one is by looking at the ring on the top of the head. If it is perfectly round and smooth, it’s most likely a counterfeit Lego. The ring on the real Lego heads has very subtle outcroppings, which makes it easier for the Lego to clutch onto other pieces.
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What Are Lego Heads Called?
Lego figures are often called minifigs by avid collectors, which is short for mini-figures. Some collectors may call them minifig heads. You may also hear collectors calling them studs. However, for the most part, they are referred to as Lego heads or minifig heads.
These heads have come a long way over the years. When Lego was first introduced, there were standard heads with no facial features, genders, or ethnicities. The point of this was to allow the kids to use their imaginations to determine what the Lego faces should look like.
Lego ended up designing heads with a standard look so they could incorporate facial features. It wasn’t until the late ’80s when Lego started to make themed characters, like pirates. The Lego heads had more features, like makeup and patches. While these heads had more features, they still consisted of the basic eyes and smile that Lego was known for.
Around 1997, Lego started to release more complicated Lego heads in the Willa the With of the Fright Knights collection. This started the trend of more detailed Lego heads. From here, Lego began introducing more heads with a lot of detail and even some popular characters.
There are many licensed Lego characters available now that are more advanced than the standard yellow Lego heads. Collectors can get licensed Lego characters from popular series like Star Wars, The Simpsons, Harry Potter, Powerpuff Girls, and more. Each licensed head is specifically designed with great detail to replicate the character.
Final Thoughts
Before the holes were put in Lego heads, the heads were a simple solid stud design. However, the holes were introduced to make Lego heads safer for kids to play with. Many small children were putting the Lego heads in their mouths and nostrils. By placing a hole in the head, a child will still be able to breathe if they get a Lego head lodged in their throat.
The idea behind the hole in the Lego head is to make the design more similar to a tube. While the design doesn’t prevent a child from swallowing the head if they place it in their mouth, it does make it possible for them to breathe if they choke on the head. However, parents should not allow young children to play with Legos under the recommended age limit.
While Lego can be fun for all ages, the heads can be dangerous for a small child who still has the urge to put everything they find in their mouth. Lego heads are very small, which makes them a choking hazard for small children (or anyone who puts them near their mouth).