Recalls To Know About Before Placing Those Presents Under the Tree

By Jessy Edwards | December 15, 2021

Category: Holiday 2021

recall, toys, holiday — (Image Credit: Deb Manusama)

As kids start sending out their holiday wish lists—and parents scramble to fulfill them—it’s more important than ever to have safety top of mind.

The worldwide toy market is now a $93.6 billion industry, and it’s only grown thanks to the pandemic and kids being stuck inside.

Toy manufacturers and retailers are facing both supply chain delays and global shipping issues, prompting a possible toy shortage that can lead consumers to scramble to buy products wherever they can find them.

This creates room for unscrupulous sellers to sell dangerous products, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns, so parents need to be more careful than ever to ensure their kids’ gifts are vetted and safe.

Here’s our guide to safe present-buying this year with a roundup of 2021’s major toy recalls.

The Risk

Toy-related injuries and deaths continue to impact thousands of children in the United States each year.

In 2020, CPSC staff received reports of nine toy-related deaths among children aged 14 or younger, as well as about 198,000 toy-related, emergency department-treated injuries according to its annual report of toy-related deaths and injuries.

Most of the deaths were associated with choking on small parts of toys. Three fatalities involved a balloon, and other deaths involved choking, inhalation of small parts or suffocation. Non-motorized scooters also accounted for 41,700 toy-related injuries in 2021, the CPSC said.

In 2008, the CPSC recalled a whopping dangerous 172 toys, 19 of which contained lead.

Exposure to lead can seriously harm a child’s health, including damage to the brain and nervous system and learning and behavior problems.

Thankfully, it’s seemingly much safer to be a kid now with only 14 new recalls under the category of “toys” on the CPSC website this year so far. However, at least two of those products contained banned lead products.

Recalled Toys of 2021

One of the recalled products containing lead is a fishing toy from Amazon. Another is a science kit sold in stores nationwide. Other 2021 CSPC toy recalls include a puzzle and a trumpet with choking hazards, a stamper pen that can cause skin irritation and a plush toy that poses a laceration risk.

Top Class Actions also covered a number of baby and child product recalls this year to look out for while shopping.

In February, Step2 recalled its Little Helper’s Shopping Cart over a laceration hazard. In April, nationwide recalls were issued for rompers, infant teethers and children’s bath wraps sold at Target after reports of choking hazards and burn risks.

In May, more than half a million slap watches were recalled due to a choking hazard. And in June, following reports of four infant deaths, Fisher-Price announced the recall of its 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soothers and 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Gliders.

Walgreens recalled about 54,000 Winnie the Pooh rattles in July after multiple reports of the lovable bear’s feet falling off, causing a choking hazard for babies. In August, Razor USA issued a recall for around 237,000 battery packs used to power its Hovertrax 2.0 Self-Balancing Scooters/Hoverboards after determining they posed a fire hazard.

Soon after, about 10 million high-powered Zen Magnets and Neoballs Magnets were recalled after safety watchdogs say two children ingested the products and then required surgery to remove them. In September, the Boppy Company issued a massive recall covering more than 3.3 million of its pillow loungers after eight reports of infant deaths.

Learning towers sold on Amazon were recalled because parts of the product can become loose, while Janod Children’s Shaving Kits were also recalled for containing a chemical that can be dangerous if ingested.

In November, it was announced that Costco and Lowe’s were recalling an outdoor playhouse due to the risk of children getting trapped in its roof.

It’s also worth noting that presents for adults can also be risks for kids. The CPSC has issued an urgent warning to consumers to stop using the Peloton Tread+ due to multiple reports of children and pets being seriously injured with one child dying after being sucked under the product.

Tips for Parents

Unfortunately, research suggests that recalls for toys that pose serious safety threats often take longer to be issued than for toys that have less serious safety issues.

Companies often take their time, fearing both reputational risk and impact to the bottom line.

While government regulators do order mandatory recalls, companies are also expected to announce voluntary recalls if they become aware of a product defect. However, if the company is slow to do so, it is children who bear the risk.

As a parent, it’s important to do your due diligence as much as possible to keep your child safe. Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission website for recalls frequently. If you discover that a toy has been recalled, get rid of it or return it to the company as soon as possible.

Parents can be proactive about searching the CPSC recall register by going to the commission’s recall page and limiting the search to “toys.” Parents can also subscribe to the CPSC daily newsletter covering recalls regarding baby and child products.

When buying toys, the CPSC recommends following age guidance on the packaging. Purchase safety gear, including helmets, for scooters and other riding toys, and make sure that children use them every time.

Keep small balls and toys with small parts away from children younger than age 3 and keep deflated balloons away from children younger than age 8. Supervise battery charging and pay attention to instructions and warnings on these chargers.

Meanwhile, when buying online, always buy from stores and online retailers you know and trust. To avoid counterfeits, scrutinize the product, the packaging and the label.

If your child is injured by a product that has either been recalled or should be recalled, seek medical attention and report the injury immediately. If the injury is serious, you may qualify for compensation, and it’s worth talking to a personal injury attorney if that is the case.

Thousands of products are recalled every year because they were deemed defective or dangerous. Check Top Class Actions daily here, and subscribe to our newsletter, for any recalls you should know about.