A widely used teething toy available on Amazon has been recalled due to over 30 reported choking incidents.
The Yetnamul drawstring teething toys, produced in China and promoted as Montessori items that enhance babies’ sensory and motor skills, are under recall in the U.S. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has indicated a significant risk of suffocation and even death for young children.
The CPSC noted in a recall statement that “the silicone laces can become lodged in the back of a child’s throat, leading to breathing difficulties, serious choking hazards, and a risk of death.”
This announcement, made on Thursday, pertains to around 6,800 toys, which include silicone strings, soft push buttons, and three rotating rings.
The toys were sold exclusively on Amazon from June to October last year, with prices ranging from $10 to $16.
Authorities stated the toy failed to meet essential federal safety regulations since the silicone drawstring was too small, allowing it to fit entirely into a child’s mouth, thereby posing a choking risk.
Reports of 32 choking incidents involving the toy have been filed with the CPSC, but it remains unclear if any suffocation cases resulted in deaths.
The recalled item resembles an off-white disk-shaped pacifier featuring a red or blue ball at its center and six long, multicolored silicone drawstrings.
This toy also had a free-rotating ring and soft push buttons, branded as a Montessori educational toy for infants and toddlers.
The recall notice includes packaging identifying it with the model number 688-59.
Montessori philosophy emphasizes a hands-on, exploratory approach to education for children.
“Montessori-style” toys typically lack batteries or electronics, aiming to aid infants and toddlers in developing motor skills, coordination, and independence.
The recall also underscores ongoing challenges for regulators as e-commerce platforms increasingly facilitate sales from foreign sellers directly to American homes.
While Amazon did not create the toy, the platform has come under heightened scrutiny from the CPSC for its role in providing potentially unsafe products to customers.
The agency has argued that online marketplaces should be held accountable for hazardous products sold by third-party vendors on their sites.
The Post has reached out to Amazon for comment.
