Clearwater, FL — Elmo Baby Teether Recall: What Parents Should Know About the Choking Hazard

Clearwater, FL (September 10th, 2026) – A toy made to soothe a teething baby should not introduce a new choking danger. But parents who purchased a Skip Hop Baby Sesame Street Elmo Silicone Teether should check the product now.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of about 22,660 Elmo teethers sold in the United States after reports that the toy’s black plastic eyes can detach when the teether is frozen. A loose piece can create a serious choking hazard for a baby or young child.

Parents should stop using the recalled teether immediately and keep it away from children. If a child has already choked, suffered an injury, or required medical treatment after using a defective children’s product, a defective product lawyer can help the family determine whether they may have a legal claim.

Light & Wyatt Law Group represents injured consumers and families in Clearwater and throughout Florida. Call 727-499-9900 to discuss your situation with our team.

Key Takeaways

• About 22,660 Skip Hop Baby Sesame Street Elmo Silicone Teethers have been recalled in the United States.
• The black eyes can detach when the teether is frozen, creating a choking hazard.
• Skip Hop has received four reports of the eyes detaching, although no injuries have been reported.
• Parents should immediately take the recalled teether away from children and contact Skip Hop for the recall remedy.
• A refund resolves the purchase of the recalled product. It does not necessarily address losses if a defective product has already injured a child.

Which Elmo Teethers Are Recalled?

The recall involves the Skip Hop Baby Sesame Street Elmo Silicone Teether, model number 9R263210.

The teether resembles Elmo’s face and includes red, orange, white, and black components. It also has a blue textured key and a fabric crayon box with multiple colors. Parents can find the model number on a red Skip Hop tag attached to the side of the crayon box.

What Should Parents Do With a Recalled Elmo Teether?

The CPSC says consumers should stop using the product immediately and take it away from children.

Skip Hop is offering a refund in the form of a gift card and providing instructions for disposing of the recalled product. Parents can contact the company directly for the recall remedy.

If a child has already had a problem with the teether, however, parents may want to document what happened before disposing of potential evidence. Photographs of the product, packaging, purchase records, medical records, and information about when and how the incident occurred could become important if the child suffered an injury.

Why a Teether Defect Creates a Particularly Serious Risk

A teether is not merely a toy a baby happens to put in their mouth. It is specifically designed for chewing and oral use. Parents may also chill or freeze teethers to help soothe sore gums. In this recall, the CPSC specifically warns that the black eyes can detach if the product is frozen.

That creates a troubling combination: a product intended for a baby’s mouth can release a small component during a foreseeable type of use.

Babies and toddlers also cannot recognize a loose component as dangerous or tell a parent that something has broken off inside their mouth. Their small airways make choking hazards especially serious.

For parents, that distinction can help explain why recalls involving infant products warrant immediate attention even when no injuries have yet been reported.

Does a Recall Mean the Product Is Legally Defective?

A recall is an important piece of information, but it does not automatically determine whether a company is legally responsible for an individual child’s injury.

A product liability case requires an examination of the particular product, what went wrong, how it was used, and whether the alleged defect caused the injury.

Depending on the circumstances, defective product cases can involve problems with a product’s design, its manufacture, or warnings and instructions provided to consumers.

For a family whose child has suffered harm, the legal question goes beyond whether a recall exists. The central issue is whether a dangerous defect caused the child’s injuries and whether a manufacturer, distributor, seller, or another party may bear legal responsibility.

A Recall Refund and an Injury Claim Are Not the Same Thing

For parents whose child has not suffered an injury, following the recall instructions and obtaining the offered refund may resolve the immediate problem.

The situation changes when a child has already suffered harm.

A gift card replaces the value of the recalled product. It does not reimburse a family for emergency medical treatment or other losses that may result from an injury.

That distinction matters with children’s products in particular. A choking incident can turn into an emergency quickly. Even when a child recovers, the incident may require evaluation or treatment that extends far beyond the $12 purchase price of the teether.

When a defective product causes an injury, Florida product liability law may provide options separate from the manufacturer’s voluntary recall remedy.

What Evidence Matters After an Injury Involving a Recalled Baby Product?

Parents’ first priority after a choking emergency should always be the child’s health and safety. Once the immediate medical concerns have been addressed, preserving information about the incident can make it easier to determine what happened.

That may include keeping photographs of the teether and any detached pieces, the packaging and model information, proof of purchase, communications concerning the recall, and medical documentation related to the incident.

Parents should also write down what happened while the details are still fresh. Was the teether frozen? Where did the component detach? Was the loose piece recovered? Did the child choke or experience difficulty breathing? Was emergency care required?

Those details can help distinguish an ordinary product return from an incident that warrants a closer investigation.

What If My Child Was Hurt by a Recalled Teether?

If your child experienced choking, breathing problems, or another injury involving a recalled teether, seek appropriate medical care and preserve as much information about the product and incident as possible.

A defective product lawyer can investigate whether the product’s condition contributed to the injury, identify companies that may bear responsibility, and determine what options are available under Florida law.

Parents put enormous trust in products designed for infants. When something intended to comfort a baby instead exposes that child to a preventable hazard, families deserve clear answers about what went wrong.

At Light & Wyatt Law Group, we represent people injured by dangerous and defective products in Clearwater, Florida. From recalled children’s products to failures involving defective safety equipment that can increase the severity of an injury, the circumstances behind each product failure matter. If your child was injured by a recalled teether, toy, or other children’s product, call us at 727-499-9900 to discuss your legal options.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Elmo Teether Recall

Can I still use the Elmo teether if I never put it in the freezer?

The CPSC advises consumers to stop using the recalled teether immediately and take it away from children. Parents should follow that guidance rather than continuing to use the product based on how it has previously been stored.

Can I have a legal claim if the recall was announced after my child’s injury?

The timing of a recall does not by itself determine whether a family has a product liability claim. An attorney can review the circumstances of the injury, the condition of the product, available recall information, and other evidence to determine what legal options may exist.

What if I no longer have my receipt?

A missing receipt does not necessarily mean there is nothing you can do. Other records may help establish where and when the product was purchased, including online order histories, bank or credit card records, photographs, packaging, or gift information. Preserve whatever documentation you still have.

Jim Magazine

James (Jim) Magazine is a Florida Board Certified Civil Trial lawyer who has spent his career helping injured victims. Jim is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida since 1990 and is also admitted to practice at the Appellate level and admitted to the United States Supreme Court.

Years of Experience: More than 30 years
Florida Registration Status: Active
Bar Admissions:
Clearwater Bar Association
West Pasco Bar Association