These Pacifiers May Look Silly but Could Prove Deadly

Thousands of Specialty Pacifiers Recalled Due to Choking Risk

Parents looking to improve upon the standard pacifier model may want to shy away from some pacifiers featuring the latest bells and whistles. 200,000 specialty pacifiers are being recalled because their various flashy features present a choking risk to children.

Fred & Friends, a unit of the appliance and housewares company Lifetime Brands Inc., recently announced the recall involving three different types of pacifiers:

• The Chill Baby Artiste Pacifier—although this trendy pacifier may look silly, its attached plastic mustache and beard can break off creating a potential choking hazard for babies.
• The Chill Baby Volume Control Pacifier—not only can this sound-producing pacifier present a choking risk if its volume knob detaches, but its ventilation holes are also smaller than federal regulations require.
• The Chill Baby Panic Button Pacifier—this specialty pacifier also has ventilation holes that are too small.

The pacifiers were sold in department stores, toy stores, hospital and museum gift shops, and other retailers from last April through December. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends young children stop using the pacifiers immediately. So far, no injuries have been reported.

This recall comes just one week after Playtex recalled 1.4 million pacifier holders because of a similar choking risk if a certain part of the clip breaks off.