"Walt Disney Mickey Mouse Baby Play Gyms"
CPSC Recall #88-098 - November 16, 1988
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 88-098 |
| Recall Date | November 16, 1988 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
Product
"Walt Disney Mickey Mouse Baby Play Gyms"
Description
WASHINGTON - Illco Toy Company, USA, Inc., of New York, NY, is voluntarily recalling some of its "Walt Disney Mickey Mouse Baby Play Gyms" because buckles and loops may dislodge from the straps and, along with an attached rattle, may present a choking hazard to young children. This recall applies only to gyms with plastic or unstitched fabric straps. Gyms having fabric straps that are stitched in two locations are not being recalled. The freestanding activity center for infants, gym no. 8722, has four tubular-shaped supports and a crossbar with three fabric or plastic straps suspended from the crossbar. Each strap holds a toy, namely Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and a disc-shaped baby rattle with a mirror on one side. The baby gym sold nationally for about $17.00 in 1987. Illco and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said some parents have complained about buckles coming off unstitched fabric straps on gym sets. CPSC tests have shown that buckles may also come loose from plastic straps. The buckles and loops of the gym are small enough to be ingested by an infant. In addition, the mirrored rattle may break into small parts and may present a potential choking hazard if it comes off the strap. Consumers having a gym set with plastic or unstitched fabric straps holding the figures and rattle to the crossbar should immediately take the toys away from infants and toddlers and request replacement straps, buckles, and rattles by writing to the Consumer Service Department, Illco Toy Company, 200 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010.
Hazard
The buckles and loops of the gym are small enough to be ingested by an infant. In addition, the mirrored rattle may break into small parts and may present a potential choking hazard if it comes off the strap.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers having a gym set with plastic or unstitched fabric straps holding the figures and rattle to the crossbar should immediately take the toys away from infants and toddlers and request replacement straps, buckles, and rattles by writing to the Consumer Service Department, Illco Toy Company, 200 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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 (Replace) 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.