Weighted Children’s Blanket Recall Urgently Issued By Target After Multiple Child Deaths
Target has issued an urgent weighted children’s blanket recall after receiving reports of the item causing multiple children to die. The item was allegedly sold exclusively at Target under the brand Pillowfort. Presently, there are reports of at least two children dying of asphyxia since April as a result of the weighted blankets.
The first reported deaths, which ultimately served to prompt the weighted children’s blanket recall, happened at a camp in North Carolina in April. Two young girls ages 4 and 6 became trapped in the blanket, and both succumbed to asphyxiation while staying at Camp Lejeune, ABC7 Eyewitness News reported.
Moreover, Target also received reports of at least two other children becoming trapped in the Pillowfort blankets. Thankfully, those children were able to be freed before being suffocated to death. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) detailed that the danger associated with this weighted children’s blanket recall relates to the zipping and unzipping mechanic of the item.
According to the CPSC, after unzipping and climbing in the blanket, small children can easily become trapped inside putting them at high risk of asphyxiation. The CPSC’s full recall report can be accessed here. Target and the CPSC formally announced the weighted children’s blanket recall on Thursday. Both the retailer and the commission have compiled a list of the products affected by the recall and are warning parents to take heed.
The items involved in the weighted children’s blanket recall were reportedly exclusively sold at Target between December 2018 and September 2022. Approximately 204,000 blankets were sold during that time. And they retailed for about $40.
The specific items included in the weighted children’s blanket recall are as follows: the Unicorn-White blanket with ID number 097-02-0140; the Space Navy design with the ID number 097-02-0148; the solid Pink-colored variety ID’d as 097-02-0361; solid Blue and Gray colored units with the IDs 097-02-0363 and 097-02-0364, respectively; the Buffalo Plaid – Red numbered 097-02-1603; the Blue Constellation designed blanket with ID 097-02-3904, and the Unicorn-Pink blankets Id’s as 097-02-3905.
All product ID numbers can be found on the blanket’s fabric tag. If you have purchased one of the items listed in the weighted children’s blanket recall, you should discontinue all use of the product and contact Target to receive a full refund. Specific steps to contact Target have been outlined on the retailer’s website.
According to the website, to receive a refund for any of the products listed in the weighed children’s blanket recall consumers should contact Target’s guest relations department. If you had purchased the Pillowfort blanket in-store dial 1-800-440-0680, and If you purchased the item online call 1-800-591-3869.
Representatives will be available to address all questions and concerns regarding the recalled items between the hours of 7 AM and 10 PM Central Standard Time, 8 AM and 11 PM Eastern Standard Time, 6 AM and 9 PM Mountain Standard Time and 5 AM and 8 PM Pacific Standard Time. Monday thru Sunday. It’s also worth noting that Target is doing its due diligence and is attempting to contact all known purchasers of the items involved in the weighed children’s blanket recall.
