Teddy bears you do not want with kids
Auckland: Owners of Teddytime’s grey “My First Teddy” were warned last month to take it back for a refund because it’s dangerous to small children. It’s yet another black mark against a soft toy that many regard as the most loved.
The My First Teddy shed fur too easily, creating a choking hazard for infants. The official New Zealand recall notice said take it back to the store for a refund. Just imagine all those broken little hearts.
We have a solid history of taking kids’ teddy bears away because it turned out they were dangerous.
In April this year, the Scania Teddy Bear from Cableprice was recalled because of fears a zip could detach and be swallowed by young owners.
It was also recalled for shedding fur.
But the granddaddy of recent unfortunate recalls came in 2015 when 15,000 teddy bears donated free to children in hospitals in Wellington, Christchurch and Waikato were recalled.
Phil & Teds “phil&teddy” bear wearing a hospital gown had two possible threats - bear fuzz coming loose and a seam splitting, which would expose the filling material.
They were free so no refund. Parents were asked to “dispose of it”. More heartbreak and horror for the kids.
Overseas, the problems are even worse.
In March this year there was an outcry in Scotland over a teddy bear sold online that could be unzipped letting stuffing and electrical wires be pulled out. One couple found their daughter with electrical wire wrapped around her neck and stuffing in her mouth.
She was unharmed but it was goodbye bear.