Stackable Toy Balls

Pediatrics for Parents, June, 2001

Product: About 6,000 Build-A-Ball preschool toys consisting of five multi-colored and various-sized plastic balls that can be taken apart to be stacked on top of each other or placed inside each other. One-half of the balls are white, green, blue, red or yellow, and the other half is clear. The balls are packaged in a box labeled "chicco," "Build-a-Ball," "Cod. 66167," and "Made in China." The packaging also indicated the toy is for children ages 13 years or 1-4 years.

Manufacturer: Chicco USA Inc., Bound Brook, N.J., (866) 242-0643 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, M-F, www.chiccousa.com.

Danger: Some of the larger-sized ball halves can become stuck on a young child's face, covering the nose and mouth, and causing suffocation.

Consumer Action: Parents and caregivers should take these balls away from young children immediately and return the toys to the store where purchased for a refund.