Target recalls more than 200,000 weighted blankets for kids after 2 children suffocate under it
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission
- The kids "reportedly became entrapped in the cover of the weighted blanket and died due to asphyxia."
- Target and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission are urging customers not to use the blankets.
- Target sold the blankets from December 2018 through September of this year for $40.
Target has recalled roughly 204,000 of its Pillowfort Weighted Blankets after two children suffocated under one in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Thursday.
The two children were 4- and 6-years-old, according to the commission, and they "reportedly became entrapped in the cover of the weighted blanket and died due to asphyxia" in April. Target has received four reports of kids becoming entrapped under these blankets, including the two deaths, the commission said.
The commission and Target are urging customers to stop using the recalled blankets and to contact Target for a refund. Customers can do so by calling Target at 800-440-0680 or going to its website and clicking on "Recall Information" then "Home Goods."
Target spokesman Joe Unger told Insider "we send our deepest condolences and support to the family that lost their loved ones."
"As soon as we became aware of the situation, we acted quickly to begin removing Pillowfort Weighted Blankets from our assortment and have pulled all of these items from sale, Unger said. "In cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the product manufacturer, we are also initiating a full product recall and are in the process of alerting consumers."
Target exclusively sold the blankets from December 2018 through September of this year for $40. The blankets were manufactured in China, weigh six pounds, and measure 60 inches long and 40 inches wide. The blankets came in eight different prints.
This isn't the first product Target has stopped selling this year due to the danger posed to children.
In November, Target stopped selling the water beads that almost caused the death of a 10-month-old baby girl.
Insider previously reported that Kennedy Mitchell was given a 50% chance of survival after accidentally swallowing one of the beads made by Chuckle & Roar. Her mother, Folichia Mitchell, purchased them for her 9-year-old son, Joshua, at Target on October 24.
Have you had any issues with Target products? Contact retail reporter Ben Tobin at btobin@insider.com or on Signal at +1 (703) 498-9171.