Magnets on child's sketch board present safety hazard

How many of you can still remember hearing your mother saying, ”Not everything that is fun is good for you.”  Usually this was after trying something that looked like a blast, but ended up in a trip to the local ER. I remember these words being fired out in white puffs of cold air as my mom was desperately digging my brother and I out of a collapsed snow tunnel run we had built on the hill in our front yard back in rural Pennsylvania. Now, as an adult I see the wisdom of her words. 

The toy industry has also heard these words, but often it is in the form of product recalls issued due to magnets releasing from their toys.  Magnets can be fun.  They can be used very creatively in toys.  They can add simplicity, or challenge to a toy, depending on the design and end-goal.  They can also add a high degree of danger.

Strong magnets that un-expectantly release for toys can be quickly ingested by youngsters of all ages. If small enough and singular, the magnets MAY pass right though the digestive system without a problem.  But if swallowed in combination with another piece of metal, or magnet, the end-result could be serious infection, even death.

On November 2, 2011, Battat Incorporated announced a recall of about 99,300 of their Toulouse-LapTrec Magnetic Sketch Boards.  Sold in the USA & Canada through Target retail and other online toys sites, only those boards sold between March 2010 and March 2011 are involved in this recall.

Photo: CPSC

Battat has received nineteen customer complaints stating that the magnetic tip was separating from the pen. The good news is that none of those reports indicated a child injury, but getting the boards out of customers’ hands before injury occurs is the goal of the recall.

Backing on sketch board

The sketch board, shown above, may have a red [model # BX1026], or brown plastic frame [model #BX1027].  The frame is attached to a bean bag backing in a bright, graphic enhanced fabric, and the magnetic tipped pen is held in place on the front of board.

Consumers who think they have an affected board should stop using it immediately and contact Battat at (866) 665-5524 or via their website at www.battatco.com.

See Health Canada's press release here.

Battat, Inc. hits sour note with musical table toy recall

Rat-a-tat-tat and a bang-bang-bang!  Toddlers love to make noise, and for years they have depended on the fun, colorful instruments and toys from Battat Incorporated to develop their young musical talent. Battat has been around for forty years in the USA and their products have been a favorite with parents for just as many years.

Today, however, Battat hit a sour note as they announced the recall of 14,000 Musical Wooden Table toys that had been sold nationwide at various retail and web toy and music stores.  Nine reports of the small pegs on the xylophone pulling off during use caused concern about the potential for a small part choking hazard. Battat reports that they have fortunately received no injury reports, but the recall was issued to reduce the potential for choking incidents in the future.

As shown below, the Musical Wooden Table is a freestanding table with a colorful mix of instruments, including a yellow cymbal, rainbow xylophone and clear plastic drum. The top of the toy is about 7.5 inches in height and is supported by three wooden legs. The tables involved in the recall were sold from September 1, 2006 through October 2010.  Cost averaged $30 each.

 

Now for the tough part – Taking the toy away from the child!  It has to be done in the name of safety, even though giving up the noisemaker may create disharmony between caregiver and child.  The good news is that consumers can contact Battat immediately for a free and improved replacement.  They can be reached by phone at (800) 247-6144, or via their website at www.battatco.com.

Battat Fun Keys Recalled in USA & Canada

Battat Inc., a family-owned business in Plattsburgh, New York has been a well-known name in educational toys for the past 40 years. They stand behind their products and strive to provide consumers with affordable products of quality and durability.

This week they fell short of that goal, as they joined with CPSC* and Health Canada to recall over 1 million toys keys with remote feature. Battat officials say they received 17 reports of the metal keys and/or the plastic key rings breaking during use.  No injuries have been reported, but parts that break into small parts can present a choking hazard to young children. The keys are marketed for children from 6 months to 3 years - ideal ages for teething and sucking 

Battat has the following customer information posted on their company website:  “On April 8th we announced we were conducting a full inquiry into our FunKeys because of a couple of isolated complaints (from tens of thousands sold) of breakage. Let us start by letting you know that no child has been hurt. Our CEO personally traveled to China to oversee a full safety review, and our engineers and labs have not been able to torture the stainless steel keys into breakage. FunKeys still pass all safety tests. Yet we know a few have broken.”   

Since that time Battat has tweaked the product and now has stronger and more secure Fun Keys available to replace the ones in the recall.  Here’s what you need to know:

United States:  1, 080,000 sold

Canada:  3,600 sold

Retail  & Online stores

 B. Fun Keys

• Sold from April 2010 through May 2011
• Factory code H58000-01 or H26300-01
• Code on back of remote
• Remote is green or red, silver key blades, and multi-colored tops
• Keys hang from a plastic ring (various colors)
• Remote makes noise when buttons pushed
• Retail price was about $9.00

Parents Magazine

• Parents Magazine Electronic Keys
• Sold from January 2006 through December 2009
• Factory code H26300-01        
• Code on back of remote
• Remote can be different colors, silver key blades with solid colored tops
• Keys hang from plastic ring (various colors)
• Remote makes noise when buttons pushed
• Retail price was about $9.00

Consumers who have purchased this product should stop using them immediately and contact Battat for replacement. Battat can be reached toll-free at (866) 665-5524; or their company Website at www.battatco.com

CPSC Press Release, click here 

*Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the leading consumer product safety authority for consumer goods in the United States