Beware of choking hazards in kids toys and tumblers as families are urged to be vigilant this holiday season

The holiday season brings joy for families, but also new safety concerns as parents choose presents that entertain while keeping children safe. Experts are urging caution this year, highlighting potential choking hazards in toys and children's products.

Dr. Megan Martin, a pediatric emergency specialist at Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital, emphasized the dangers of toys containing small magnets or button batteries, which can be extremely hazardous if ingested. She noted that counterfeit or knockoff toys are particularly risky because they often use weaker components, making batteries more likely to come loose.

Families are advised to regularly inspect battery and magnet compartments on toys and closely supervise children during play. Several recent product recalls highlight these risks:

• KTEBO Writing Tablets: Over 10,000 units sold on Amazon were recalled due to the risk of battery ingestion. Loose screws in the battery compartment could allow button batteries to come out, posing a serious injury or death risk.
• Cubimana Treehouse Building Sets: Sold on Shein, these toys were recalled because their battery compartments are easily accessible to children, creating ingestion hazards.
• CreateOn Crayola pip-Cubes: Thousands of magnetic building cube sets sold at Michaels and Amazon were recalled after magnets inside could detach. Swallowed magnets can attract within the digestive system, potentially causing perforations, blockages, infections, or even death.
• HydroJug 14-ounce Childrens Sport Tumblers: Approximately 17,000 tumblers were recalled after over 600 reports of loose rivets on the handles. Detached handles pose a choking hazard. These tumblers were available at Scheels and online platforms including Amazon.

Additionally, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued warnings about counterfeit monster dolls, specifically the Lafufus brand. These knockoffs are small enough to block a childs airway if placed in the mouth.

While no injuries have been reported for these recalled items so far, parents are strongly encouraged to check their childrens toys and household items for potential hazards and remove any that could pose a risk.

Author: Maya Henderson