Christmas House Plush Bear" and "Christmas House Christmas Plush" dolls

CPSC Recall #03-103 — April 1, 2003

Recall Summary

Recall Number03-103
Recall DateApril 1, 2003
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 407,000
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Dollar Tree
Only One Dollar
Only $1
Dollar Express
and Dollar Bills stores nationwide sold these toys from June 2002 through March 2003 for about $1.

Product

Christmas House Plush Bear" and "Christmas House Christmas Plush" dolls

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dollar Tree Stores Inc., of Chesapeake, Va., is voluntarily recalling about 407,000 plush bears and 221,000 snowman dolls. Buttons on the jacket of these toys can be pulled off, posing a choking hazard to young children.CPSC and Dollar Tree have received no reports of injuries or incidents. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.The 10-inch plush bear is white and dressed in a hat and jacket in one of the following colors: red, blue, hunter green, pink, purple, light green, light blue and white. The 10-inch snowman doll is dressed in a hat and jacket that are blue and pink. The snowman dolls also have white scarves and a red ball nose. Both the bears and the snowman dolls have a label on their backs that reads, "DIST BY: DOLLAR TREE" and " MADE IN CHINA." The bears and snowman dolls were sold with ear tags that read either, "Christmas House Plush Bear" or "Christmas House Christmas Plush."Dollar Tree, Only One Dollar, Only $1, Dollar Express, and Dollar Bills stores nationwide sold these toys from June 2002 through March 2003 for about $1.Parents and caregivers should take these toys away from young children immediately, and return the toys to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call Dollar Tree at (800) 876-8077 anytime, or visit the firm's website at www.dollartree.com.

Hazard

Buttons on the jacket of these toys can be pulled off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and Dollar Tree have received no reports of injuries or incidents.

Remedy Instructions

Parents and caregivers should take these toys away from young children immediately, and return the toys to the store where purchased for a refund.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.

Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside — if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.