Understanding the Potential Dangers of Weighted Blankets for Young Children
We're here to talk about two recent urgent product recalls that our readers need to know about. On the very same day, YourHealthToolkit's 5-pound children's weighted blankets and Sleepyhead’s Loveys and Bandana Bibs were both recalled. Your child's safety is our top priority, and we want to ensure that you're well informed.
About the YourHealthToolkit 5-Pound Children's Weighted Blankets
YourHealthToolkit has issued a recall for their 5-pound children's weighted blankets, and you might be wondering why. Well, it's all about safety. These recalled blankets could pose a serious risk to young children. How so, you ask? The hazard comes from the possibility of a child unzipping and getting inside the blanket, which could lead to asphyxiation and, in the worst-case scenario, even death. We know it sounds scary, but it's better to be safe than sorry. The good news is that, at the time of this recall, there have been no reported incidents or injuries related to these blankets.
Let’s Review: Weighted Blanket Concerns
This topic may be familiar to our attentive readers. Just last year, we reported about a different recall of weighted blankets. In that blog post, we also discussed the pros and cons of these blankets. Click here to read the blog post here. In the meantime, let’s review.
Weighted blankets have benefits, and designed to provide deep pressure stimulation, which can be calming for many individuals. However, for young children, these added layers of weight can limit a child's mobility, hindering their ability to move freely and increasing the risk of suffocation.
Not only that, they can cause discomfort due to the fact that young children are more susceptible to overheating. Finally, some children may experience anxiety or fear when placed under a heavy, constricting blanket, which can result in sleep disturbances or even nightmares.
Do I Have It? If So, What Do I Do?
The YourHealthToolkit 5-pound children's weighted blankets measure 36 inches by 48 inches and were exclusively sold on Amazon.com. They are aqua blue on one side and gray on the other, with fabric quilting and raised fabric dots.
They have a zipper pouch and a YourHealthToolkit (YHT) logo attached as a hangtag to the seams of the blanket. These blankets were sold between January 2020 and March 2020 for prices ranging from $25 to $40.
If you have this product, the remedy is simple: stop using it immediately and contact Amazon for a full refund. YourHealthToolkit is reaching out to all purchasers with instructions on how to return the product or disable functionality. You can also reach out to YourHealthToolkit directly: 800-886-0803 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or via the YourHealthToolkit Contact Form.
About Sleepyhead’s Loveys and Bandana Bibs
The second recalled product we want to tell you about today is the Sleepyhead’s Loveys and Bandana Bibs. This is an important note, as about 450,000 of these were sold.
The recalled loveys are used as a security blanket for babies and toddlers. The recalled Bandana Bibs are worn by babies while they eat. Both products come in a variety of colors and patterns and are being recalled for the same reason. You see, the company received two reports indicating that the care instruction labels became detached. Luckily, no injuries have been reported.
What Should You Do If You Have These Products
Both of the products have been sold online at www.littlesleepies.com and at boutique stores nationwide from February 2021 through September 2023 for between $12 and $48. As we mentioned above, both the recalled Sleepyhead Loveys and Bandana Bib come in a variety of colors and patterns.
If you have purchased these items, you should immediately take the recalled Sleepyhead Loveys and Bandana Bib away from children and remove the care instruction label. This will help to eliminate the associated risk. If you do not wish to remove the label, you can return the products for a full refund with pre-paid shipping from the company.