Hallmark Recalls 15,000 Baby Teethers Due To Choking Hazard

Hallmark is recalling about 15,500 teethers as they may pose a choking hazard. Affected consumers should immediately take the products away from children.

The recall affects 11 styles of Hallmark teether rings made of softwood and have various fabric or plush attachments, the recall alert posted on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website noted.

Apparently, the affected products' wooden rings can "break into small parts," thereby posing a choking hazard. As of the Wednesday recall notice, the company already received four reports of the teether rings breaking apart, with one report of a pinched lip and another of a child putting the broken pieces in their mouth.

The products affected by the recall were sold at Hallmark Gold Crown stores, online, pharmacies, boutique gift shops and supermarkets from June 2015 to June 2021. As mentioned, they come with fabric or plush attachments, such as plush rattles, decorative fabric or plush animal heads.

"The products were sold with a gray woven brand label with the Hallmark brand crown and a hangtag, in various colors, describing the product as 'Plush and Wood Teether and Rattle' or 'Wood and Detachable Cloth Teether for Little Droolers,'" CPSC noted.

A full list of the teethers affected by the recall, along with their SKU numbers and the detailed descriptions, are available on the CPSC website.

Those who have the product are advised to take the teethers away from children and contact Hallmark to get a $25 gift card. Apart from the 15,500 sold in the U.S., about 1,228 of the affected products were sold in Canada, where customers may get a full reimbursement.

Choking Hazards in Young Children

Babies and young children are particularly at risk of choking because they tend to explore their surroundings by putting small things in their mouths. They also have small airways and don't always chew food enough to break them into small pieces.

Common choking hazards include foods like raw carrots, hard candies, nuts and sunflower seeds. Even soft foods like hot dogs and grapes may also pose a choking risk, that's why they need to be cut into smaller pieces. Toys and small objects like coins, marbles, batteries, magnets and toys with small parts are also considered choking hazards, so it's important to keep such things out of children's reach.

"A child needs immediate medical attention if they choke on batteries, dried peas or beans, even if they seem fine," HealthLinkBC noted. "Batteries contain strong chemicals that can burn a child if they are swallowed. Dried peas and beans swell when they absorb water, causing a more complete airway blockage."

As such, learning CPR is one of the key ways to be prepared in case of such emergencies.

"Even with these precautions in place, kids still can get hurt and accidents do happen," Nemours KidsHealth said. "But being prepared will help you to act quickly and confidently in the event of an emergency."