China-based ChilanTech is recalling around 24,400 units of teething toys from the U.S. market following reports of choking and respiratory issues among kids.
The recall applies to “LiKee Pull String Teething Toys” sold online at Amazon for roughly $10 between November 2024 and December 2025, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said in a June 11 statement.
The silicone strings in the toys “can reach the back of children’s throat and become lodged, posing a serious risk of respiratory distress and deadly choking hazard,” the CPSC said.
The company has received 10 reports of adverse incidents in which the toy’s strings have reached the back of children’s throats, the CPSC said. These incidents have resulted in choking or respiratory distress among users.
LiKee Pull String Teething Toys’ packaging features the term “Baby Sensory Toy” and the brand name on the front, with the model number LK-FDWJ on the back.
CPSC asked customers to immediately stop children from playing with the toys. The company is offering a free replacement toy of equal or greater value, covering shipping charges as well.
According to the CPSC, teethers and teething toys intended to soothe a child, not to ease teething pain, are under the agency’s jurisdiction and must comply with the U.S. Toy Standard.
If the teether or teething toy is intended to ease the teething pain of a child, it falls outside of the purview of the CPSC. Such products come under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration.
In addition to choking hazards, parents should also watch out for the risk of children ingesting phthalate chemicals from teething toys, according to biotech company Americord.
A Make America Healthy Again commission report warned that certain phthalates can “trigger hormone dysregulation and reproductive and developmental problems for babies in utero and infants.”
Americord suggested that parents read the labels of teething toys. If the labels contain the terms “phthalate-free,” “BPA-free,” or “PVC-free,” it suggests the manufacturer has taken steps to avoid harmful substances in the toys.
The company warned against being influenced by vague claims on labels, such as “non-toxic” and “natural,” as these terms are not legally regulated or defined by the FDA.
US Toy Safety
Toys sold in the United States, including teething toys, must not contain small parts if intended for children under 3 years of age.
“In addition, certain toys containing small parts, balloons, small balls, and/or marbles as received are subject to cautionary labeling requirements,” the agency said.
Products intended for children aged 12 years and younger must not contain lead or phthalates above set thresholds.
Items sold to this demographic must also bear “distinguishing, permanent marks” that allow buyers to ascertain the manufacturer’s identity and information about the manufacturing process, such as batch numbers.
According to a November 2024 CPSC report, toys are responsible for several deaths among children annually.
“CPSC staff received reports of 40 total toy-related deaths that occurred among children 14 years of age or younger for the years 2021 through 2023. The toys most commonly involved in the fatalities over the three-year period included flotation toys, bouncy balls, and other types of balls,” the report said.
For calendar year 2023 alone, 10 deaths were reported in the demographic. This included two fatalities due to choking on crayons, two deaths from choking on a bouncy ball, and two deaths due to drowning while the children were using a flotation toy.
