Ten Famous Toy Recalls

The number of recalls issued by toy manufacturers isstuck between the back of the seat and the side
staggering. Today there seems to be little attentiontable attached to the chair, which could cause the
and thought in the design of children's toys, otherchild's neck to become stuck as well and posed a
than to make them as cheaply as possible. Thestrangulation hazard.
design level is certainly lacking the element of making5. Mattel Polly Pocket magnetic play sets
safety first. It is apparent the parents or thoseMattel Inc. recalled 4.4 million "Polly Pocket magnetic
buying the toys are purchasing them without theplay sets" after they found out that three children
knowledge of reading the box which will say "Partshad been hospitalized with serious injuries after
that can cause a choking accident". We have to beswallowing tiny magnets which fell off of the toys.
more vigilant in the supervision of children and look to6. Mega Brands Inc. "Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets"
see if a situation is life threatening.3.8 million of these Magnetix sets were recalled after
Here is a list of a few products that have been listeda 19-month old, and three other children were injured
on the top ten list of recalls:from parts of the toy, one fatally. The magnets
1. Toy Mobile Phones Recalled for Choking Hazardwere distributed loose in the box and were fairly
International Playthings Inc., of Parsippany, N.J. recalledsmall. If swallowed, several of them could
50,500 iPlay "My First Mobile Phones". The toymagnetically bond together inside the digestive track
phone's yellow antenna could detach and posed aand cause serious blockage.
choking hazard to young children.7. Riding Toys
2. Next Marketing Inc. Recalls Youth Hooded FleeceThere were 20 toy-related deaths and 152,400
with Drawstring for Strangulation Hazardtoy-related injuries involving children under age 15.
Next Marketing Inc., of Wabash, Ind. recalled 22,000Although no deaths occurred, The majority of injuries
Youth Hooded Fleeces with Drawstrings. Thewere sustained from riding toys.
drawstring, which went through the hood of the8. KFC Tangled Treeples Toy
fleece, posed a strangulation hazard to children. InThese toys came with KFC kids meals in June and
February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines to helpJuly of 2000. The container the toys came in could fit
prevent children from strangling or getting entangledover a child's nose and mouth, posing a suffocation
on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upperhazard to children.
garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.9. Playskool Toy Tool Bench
3. Simplicity CribsPlayskool voluntarily recalled this toy after it resulted
After the death of a 19-month baby in Myrtle Creek,in the death of two toddlers.
Ore., the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission10. Children's Cooking Sets
and Simplicity Inc., of Reading Pa., renewed theirA popular Children's Cooking Set was recalled
search for recalled Aspen 3 in 1 Cribs with Gracobecause the glass lids were considered a laceration
logos. The child died on Jan. 6, 2006, after two ofHazard.
the mattress support slats came out of his recalledWhen it comes to children, toy manufacturers need
crib. The infant was trapped between the mattressto think safety first. Children are vulnerable and need
and the foot board of the crib and suffocated.constant supervision, but parents have learned to
4. Fisher-Price Infant Musical Toy ChairHazarddepend on and trust the judgment of companies like
Fisher-Price, one of the most well-known toyPlayskool and Fisher Price. Like it or not, those
manufacturers in the world, voluntarily recalled aboutcompanies have, at least in the opinion of this writer,
614,000 Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn & Trade Musicala responsibility that is inherent to the industry they've
Learning Chairs. It was possible for a child to getchosen.