Children’s bat cape costumes

CPSC Recall #16-139 — April 7, 2016

Recall Summary

Recall Number16-139
Recall DateApril 7, 2016
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 11,000 (in addition, 750 in Canada)
Manufacturer"IKEA North America, of Conshohocken, Pa."
ImporterIKEA North America Services LLC, of Conshohocken, Pa.
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

IKEA stores nationwide and online at www.ikea-usa.com from November 2015 through February 2016 for about $13.

Product

Children’s bat cape costumes

Description

The fastener at the neck of the bat cape can fail to detach readily during use.

Hazard

The fabric hook and loop fastener at the neck of the children’s bat cape costumes can fail to detach readily during use, posing a strangulation hazard to children.

Incidents & Injuries

IKEA has received three reports outside of the United States of the fabric hook and loop fastener at the neck of the costume failing to detach readily and scratching children’s necks.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately take the recalled bat capes away from children and return the capes to any IKEA store for a full 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.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

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.