"Learn and Play Pal" and "Soft Sisters" dolls

CPSC Recall #89-018 — February 27, 1989

Recall Summary

Recall Number89-018
Recall DateFebruary 27, 1989
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 8,000

Product

"Learn and Play Pal" and "Soft Sisters" dolls

Description

WASHINGTON -- "Learn and Play Pal" and "Soft Sisters" dolls, which were sold nationwide last year in toy, chain and drug stores, are being recalled by Lovee Doll Company of Brooklyn, N.Y. in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The buttons or a buckle on the clothing of the dolls could come off and present a choking hazard to young children. Standing 16 inches tall, "Learn and Play Pals" #41215 and 09-41215 are soft-filled dolls with brown or white faces and red or brown hair. They are dressed in a multi-striped shirt and blue overalls with a button, buckle, snap, zipper and shoelace attached, so children can learn how to use the items. "Soft Sisters" #35350 are baby dolls, 12 inches tall, with soft bodies, plastic faces, curly hair and black or white skin color. One doll comes dressed in overalls with straps which are attached in front by two half-inch buttons. According to the company, about 8,000 dolls were distributed for sale in 1987. The Lovee label appears only on the package and not on the dolls. Consumers having any of the dolls with buttons or buckles on the clothing should immediately remove the buttons and buckles or take the dolls away from young children and return the dolls to the store where purchased for a refund of the full purchase price. U. S. Customs Service identified the potentially hazardous dolls imported from Hong Kong at the Port of Newark, N.J. during "Operation Toyland," a joint surveillance program with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Hazard

The buttons or a buckle on the clothing of the dolls could come off and present a choking hazard to young children.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers having any of the dolls with buttons or buckles on the clothing should immediately remove the buttons and buckles or take the dolls away from young children and return the dolls to the store where purchased for a refund of the full purchase price.

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.