Singapore Baby Product Recall: Unsafe Items Found on Shopee and Lazada

Several baby products, including bouncers from SG Stock and Mas Baby, have been recalled from Shopee and Lazada.

Consumers in Singapore have been alerted to a Singapore baby product recall after a recent inspection by Enterprise Singapore found that 15 out of 23 baby items from these platforms posed safety risks, including choking hazards and potential for injury.

Unsafe Baby Products Identified

The Singapore baby product recall involves various baby bouncers, walkers, and toys that failed to meet safety standards. Enterprise Singapore’s inspection revealed that many of these products had detachable parts, posing serious choking hazards for infants. Other issues included instability in baby bouncers and walkers, which increased the risk of toppling, potentially leading to injuries such as fractures or head trauma​.

Baby Bouncers

• SG Stock 2023 Upgrade Baby Rocking Chair
  • Risks: Detachable parts that can cause choking, insecure restraints, and risk of falls.
• Mas Baby Mesh Netted Baby Bouncer
  • Risks: Choking hazards from small detachable parts, lack of locking mechanism leading to falls, and risk of finger entrapment.
• Foldable Baby Bouncer Rocker
  • Risks: Small parts that can be easily removed, posing choking hazards, and unstable restraints that can lead to falls.

For a full list and images of the recalled toys, consumers are advised to visit the Consumer Product Safety Office’s website.
Image credit: Consumer Product Safety Office.

Baby Walkers

• Cherry Baby Walker
  • Risks: Openings that can trap the child’s torso or fingers, and toppling risk when moving down steps. Brakes are often insecure, leading to potential accidents.
• ALB Baby Walker
  • Risks: Small, removable parts posing choking hazards, torso and finger entrapment, and instability leading to falls.

Toys

• Busy Cube
  • Risks: Small detachable parts that can cause choking, sharp points causing lacerations, and strangulation risks from long cords.
• Reusable Silicone Water Balloon (YAMAYOSG on Shopee and Ideacreativity on Lazada)
  • Risks: Small, detachable magnetic parts that can cause serious internal injuries if swallowed, including intestinal blockages.
• Toddler Busy Board
  • Risks: Choking from small detachable parts, strangulation from long cords, and suffocation risks from plastic film.

Safety Incidents Reported in Singapore

The Singapore baby product recall comes in the wake of multiple safety incidents involving baby products. According to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, over 10 injuries linked to baby bouncers and walkers are reported each year. 

As reported by Channel NewsAsia​, these injuries include:

• Fractures and head injuries due to falls from unstable baby walkers and bouncers.
• Lacerations caused by sharp points on poorly designed products.
• Second-degree burns, particularly when children in walkers access areas with hot liquids while unsupervised​.

Additionally, toys with small or magnetic parts have been linked to an average of 46 cases per year at KKH. In severe instances, ingested small magnets have caused intestinal blockages or punctured intestinal walls. Detached toy parts can also lead to choking, sometimes resulting in fatal outcomes if the child’s airway is completely obstructed​.

Additionally, toys with small or magnetic parts have caused an average of 46 hospital visits per year, with cases involving severe outcomes like intestinal blockages from ingested magnets, as highlighted by The Straits Times​.

Safety Tips for Parents

In response to the Singapore baby product recall, parents are urged to take several precautions when purchasing baby products online. Enterprise Singapore recommends choosing reputable sellers and carefully reviewing product details and customer feedback for any safety concerns. 

It is crucial to read the age and safety instructions to ensure the product is suitable for the child. Upon receiving the product, parents should inspect it for hazards such as small, detachable parts or insecure restraints before allowing children to use it.

15 Good Practices For Children’s Toys advised by CPSO

1. 1. Check if the toy is being recalled or banned.
   2. Only buy from reputable brands and sellers.
   3. Buy toys that are right for your child’s age.
   4. Pay attention to the age-appropriateness of the toy and look out for age labels.
   5. Follow age recommendations and other instructions that come with the product closely. Do not buy the product if such information is not available.
   6. Check toys frequently for any breakage which may result in sharp edges or small/loose parts that could cause choking. Do not let your child play with damaged toys.
   7. Ensure that toys with projectiles do not have sharp edges and cannot launch improvised projectiles.
   8. Ensure that riding toys are stable and will not topple easily
   9. Look out for warnings or the safety alert symbol to be informed of the potential hazards.
   10. Check that compartments with button batteries are properly secured. Look out for battery compartments where the fasteners used to secure the cover cannot be removed completely and will remain with the cover.
   11. Remove batteries in electronic toys when not in use.
   12. Keep new and used button batteries out of sight and out of reach of young children at all times.
   13. Keep toys properly after play.
   14. Supervise young children carefully during play, especially when toys have detachable small parts or magnets.
   15. Seek medical attention immediately if the child swallows any part of the toy or battery.

If unsure about a product’s safety, the Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO) advises against its use​.

Actions Taken by Authorities

Following the recall, CPSO engaged with retailers to remove all non-compliant items from Shopee and Lazada. As a result, they took down listings of dangerous baby bouncers, walkers, and toys from these platforms.

Enterprise Singapore has also urged consumers who purchased the recalled products to stop using them immediately. They further advised shoppers to inspect similar items for potential hazards before use. 

CPSO will regularly engage with e-commerce platforms to enforce product safety regulations and conduct ongoing market surveillance to prevent the return of unsafe products.