Choking hazard prompts recall of 1.7 million Little Tikes ™ toys

Many watched and laughed out loud as the endearing, but accident-prone “Tim the Tool Man” Taylor created destruction, and sometimes even physical injury, while showing off his less-than competent tool use prowess.  This world of television make-believe made light of the dangers of tools in the hands of a less than fully aware adult.  But dangerous toys in the hands of unwitting youngsters are no laughing matter.

On August 13, 2009, well-known toy manufacturer, Little Tikes™, recalled about 1.6 million tool and workshop play sets due to the design of the large plastic nails that have the potential to cause choking in young children.  In that recall four styles of workshop-themed toys and one play truck with a tool set in the trunk was involved. Today, that recall has been expanded to include eleven additional sets that all contain that same nail design.

In all, three incidents have been cited in which the plastic nail became lodged in the throat of a child, causing the child to choke and require hospitalization. Fortunately, all made a compete recovery, but the potential for a more tragic ending looms nefariously. Because the potential of harm is evident, Little Tikes™ has expanded their recall to include an additional 1.7 million products that contain these large plastic nail components. Products included in the recall were sold nationwide between January 1990 through December of 2004.

The red and blue plastic nails are both about 3.25 inches in length and have a slightly rounded nail head that measures about 1.25 inch in diameter. One and one quarter inch below the nail head is another plastic ridge that measures about 1 inch in diameter.  ASTM F963 Toys Safety Specification has a requirement that defines safeguards for these nail, screw or bolt- shaped components with spherical or hemispherical ends.  They must not be able to enter and fit past the full depth of the test fixture for rattles, squeeze toys and teethers.  The diameter of the opening in this testing fixture is 1.68 inch, with a fixture depth of 1.18 inch.

While it is questionable whether or not these particular nails fall into this category (since the nail head does not immediately appear to be spherical or hemispherical), the fact that the nail could be lodged in the back of a child’s throat is certainly alarming. This gives consumers another learning lesson when selecting toys for their children under 4 years of age. 

For those who have purchased one of the models listed above, remove the nails from the product immediately and contact Little Tikes™ for new and improved replacement nails.  The company can be contacted at (800) 321-0183, or via their website.