More Than 400,000 Fisher-Price Dumbbell Toys Recalled Due to Choking Risks

Recalled dumbbell toy sold in the Fisher-Price Baby Bicep Gift Set. Courtesy of the CPSC

Toy manufacturer Fisher-Price is recalling dumbbell toys in the United States amid concerns of choking risks, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

“This recall involves the plastic dumbbell toy sold with the Fisher-Price Baby Biceps Gift Set,” the CPSC said in an Aug. 29 recall notice. “The gray caps on the end of the dumbbell toy can come off, posing a choking hazard to infants.”

In total, around 366,200 units were recalled, with 37,850 more pulled out from Canada.

“The bar of the dumbbell toy is gray with orange and red plastic weights on each side. The model number GJD49 is located on the back of the kettlebell toy in the gift set,” the notice reads.

The Baby Gift Set was sold in Walmart, Kohls, Fred Meyer, Hobby Lobby, Marshalls, TJMaxx, Buy Buy Baby, and Target stores across the United States for approximately $18 between April 2020 and August 2024. It was sold online via Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Zulily.com, Target.com, and other websites.

Fisher-Price received seven reports of the ends of dumbbells coming off the product, with these incidents occurring in the United States, the notice said. No injuries have been reported.

The items were manufactured in China and Vietnam. The CPSC website has uploaded images of the recalled product.

The notice asks consumers who have already bought the item to stop using it. Consumers can request a refund via the company website.

“Once the consumer provides confirmation that the dumbbell toy will be disposed of as directed, the consumer will be paid $10 for the dumbbell toy only. Consumers can keep the remaining toys in the Baby Biceps Gift Set. Proof of purchase (receipt) is not required to receive a refund for the dumbbell,” the notice reads.

In October 2023, Mattel, the owner of Fisher-Price, recalled Thomas & Friends-branded train toys due to concerns that a small magnetic piece could detach, posing a choking or ingestion hazard to children. More than 21,000 items were recalled from North America.

Danger From Toys

Several children lose their lives annually in toy-related deaths. According to a CPSC report, the commission received reports of 11 such deaths in 2022 among children aged 14 and younger.

Two fatalities involved choking on bouncy balls, with three more choking incidents involving other types of balls. In one of the incidents, a 2-year-old boy died from struggling to breathe after he placed a quarter-inch diameter soft ball in his mouth.

In the United States, products intended for use by children under the age of 3 that present risks such as choking or ingestion hazards due to their small parts are banned.

“Certain children’s products that are or contain small parts, balloons, small balls, or marbles must be labeled to warn consumers not to buy them for children under a certain age,” CPSC states.

“Any advertising for children’s toys subject to the choking hazard warning labeling requirement must use the same warning label.”

Some toys pose a risk for children if care is not taken. For instance, loud toys can damage hearing, while toys such as slime may contain high levels of toxins harmful to babies.

In March, the CPSC asked customers to throw away water bead products from two Chinese firms that refused to issue a recall. The agency’s warning came due to the presence of a chemical at levels that posed toxicity risks.

Water beads also pose a choking hazard. These items are often sold as toys for children with developmental disabilities. The items can grow to 100 times their original size when exposed to water.

“Water beads look harmless—almost like candy—but can be deadly to babies and small children if ingested; and can lead to choking, internal injuries, and even death if left undetected,” the agency warned at the time.