Toys, Christmas Tree Light Controllers Recalled Nationwide Due to Fire Hazard

A Christmas tree, in a file photo. Anastasiia Krivenok/Getty Images

Two companies are withdrawing children’s speakers and decorative lighting controllers from the market, citing safety risks.

In April, New York-based Yoto Inc. recalled its Yoto Mini branded speakers aimed at children ages 3 to 12. On Dec. 12, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a notice that the company had reannounced the recall; the agency warned that “the speaker’s lithium-ion battery can overheat and catch fire, posing burn and fire hazards to consumers.”

At the time of the initial recall, the company offered affected customers a free replacement smart charging cable. Now, Yoto is offering a free battery replacement kit to affected customers.

“Consumers should request the battery replacement kit even if they already received the smart cable in the April 2024 recall,” the notice stated.

In total, about 251,165 speakers sold in the United States are subject to the recall, as are nearly 19,000 units sold in Canada. Yoto Mini was manufactured in China.

The product was sold at us.YotoPlay.com, Target.com, Amazon.com, and Maisonette.com and through various gift and toy stores across the country. It was priced at roughly $70 and distributed between November 2021 and April 2024. The speaker model has the item number SKU PRPLXX00860.

The company has received 12 complaints of speakers overheating or melting—nine from the United States and three from the UK. So far, there have been no reports of injuries related to the product.

The notice asked parents to take the speakers away from children and advised consumers to “immediately stop” using the item.

“Recalled lithium-ion batteries should be disposed of in accordance with any local and state ordinances, following the procedures established by your municipal recycling center for damaged/defective/recalled lithium batteries, because these potentially hazardous batteries must be handled differently than other batteries,” the notice stated.

“Do not throw this recalled battery in the trash. Do not deposit this recalled battery in used battery recycling boxes found at various retail and home improvement stores.”

Meanwhile, Tennessee-based Mr. Christmas LLC recalled wireless decorative tree light controllers on Dec. 12, citing concerns about overheating and fire hazards. The controller, manufactured in China, is used to “turn on holiday lights on a tree,” a notice stated.

The product was sold through Cracker Barrel, Walmart, and Target stores across the nation and on their websites between July and November. The items cost $25 to $40 and have one of these model numbers: 39611, 39612, and 39630.

In total, about 44,600 units are being withdrawn. The company asked purchasers to stop using the product and return it for a full refund. Mr. Christmas has received 10 reports of overheating, including an incident involving a fire. There have been no reported injuries.

Gift Threats, Safety of Kids’ Toys

According to the CPSC, roughly 160 Christmas decorating-related injuries happen on average every day during the holiday season. About 14,900 people suffered such injuries and were treated at hospital emergency departments during the holiday season between Nov. 1, 2022, and Jan. 31, 2023, according to the agency.

A CPSC report notes that there were an estimated 154,700 emergency department-treated (ED) injuries in 2023 linked to toys used by children ages 12 and younger. Ten deaths were also reported.

“The majority of the 10 deaths reported were attributed to choking on small balls or crayons, drownings linked to flotation toys, entrapment inside a toy chest, and ingestion of water beads,” the agency wrote.

“Among the ED-treated injuries, non-motorized scooters accounted for the largest share of injuries across all age groups—53,000. Non-motorized scooters accounted for one in every five toy-related injuries to children younger than 15 years old.”

Ensuring safety is crucial as toys are the second most popular gift choice of Americans this Christmas season, behind clothing and accessories, according to a November survey from market research company Resnio.

The CPSC’s recall of children’s speakers and decorative tree lights controllers come as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently issued an advisory warning people to be alert against buying counterfeit items this holiday season.

AnnMarie R. Highsmith, executive assistant commissioner for CBP’s Office of Trade, said there are “significant health and safety hazards” associated with these fake items.

“We’ve seen it all—toys with elevated lead content to cosmetics with nasty ingredients you wouldn’t want on your skin,“ she said. ”These aren’t the gifts you want to give to your family.”