Colorforms #150 Story Book Puzzles, and Crib Pals Shake and Twist Baby Rattles, #098132

CPSC Recall #88-026 — May 10, 1988

Recall Summary

Recall Number88-026
Recall DateMay 10, 1988
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedApproximately 12,000 puzzles and approximately 24,000 rattles

Where It Was Sold

The Colorforms #150 Story Book Puzzles were sold nationwide from September '86 to December '87 through Toys-R-Us Stores for approximately $5.97. The Crib Pals Shake N' Twist Baby Rattles were sold nationwide from March '86 to December '87 through Toys-R-Us stores for approximately $1.48.

Product

Colorforms #150 Story Book Puzzles, and Crib Pals Shake and Twist Baby Rattles, #098132

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Toys-R-Us of Rochelle Park, New Jersey, is recalling Colorforms #150 Story Book Puzzles and Crib Pals Shake and Twist Baby Rattles, #098132, because they violate safety requirements and present a potential choking hazard. The Colorforms #150 Story Book Puzzles are five-piece wooden puzzles in two models: The "Pinky Brite Bear" and the "Rosy Brite Bear". The puzzles are packaged in brightly colored boxes labeled, "COLORFORMS WOOD N' PEG BRITE BEAR STORY BOOK PUZZLE, AGES 1 1/2 TO 3 YEARS. MADE IN COSTA RICA DISTRIBUTED BY LASH DISTRIBUTORS, ROCHELLE PARK, NJ 07662. Some of the pieces of the puzzles are small parts and present a potential choking hazard. The Department of Consumer Protection for the State of Connecticut identified this violation. Approximately 12,000 of these puzzles were sold nationwide from September '86 to December '87 through Toys-R-Us Stores for approximately $5.97. The Crib Pals Shake N' Twist Baby Rattle, #098132, measures 5 1/2 inches by 1 3/4 inches. One end has a ball 1 1/2 inches in diameter which contains liquid and six colored pellets. The other end contains a squeaker 1 3/4 inches in diameter. The rattler can break during use, and the broken pieces present a potential choking hazard. The rattle is packaged on a card labeled, "CRIB PALS SHAKE AND TWIST RATTLE, TOYS-R-US, AGES 6 MONTHS AND UP SKN 098132, MANUFACTURED BY SHIN NIHON TSUSHO JAPAN." Approximately 24,000 of these rattles were sold nationwide from March '86 to December '87 through Toys-R-Us stores for approximately $1.48. Although the CPSC and Toys-R-Us have not received reports of any injuries or deaths involving the Colorforms puzzles or the Shake and Twist baby rattles, consumers should take these toys away from children and return them to any Toys-R-Us store for a full refund of the purchase price. Anyone wishing additional information about this recall may call Toys-R-Us at 201-368-5433.

Hazard

For the Colorforms #150 Story Book Puzzles, some of the pieces of the puzzles are small parts and present a potential choking hazard. For the Crib Pals Shake N' Twist Baby Rattle, the rattler can break during use, and the broken pieces present a potential choking hazard.

Incidents & Injuries

The CPSC and Toys-R-Us have not received reports of any injuries or deaths involving the Colorforms puzzles or the Shake and Twist baby rattles.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should take these toys away from children and return them to any Toys-R-Us store for a full refund of the 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.