toy recall water balzIt's never good news when a children's toy is the subject of a recall. But the recall of a marble-sized ball that inflates in water is especially troubling when you hear the story of why the Water Balz, Growing Skulls, H2O Orbs "Despicable Me," and Fabulous Flowers toys are being pulled from the shelves. A little baby nearly died and had to undergo surgery to repair the damage done by one of these!

The 8-month-old girl from Humble, Texas apparently swallowed the ball, and because of its chemical makeup, the toy began to swell. It eventually caused an intestinal blockage, which could only be remedied by surgery. It's a scary reminder that sometimes the damage done by toys our babies swallow goes far beyond choking.

So what do you need to do to keep your babies safe?

Let's get these things off the shelf, for one thing! Here's what you need to know:

1. Some 95,000 of the toys being recalled were sold under a variety of names in the United States and Canada including Water Balz, Growing Skulls, H2O Orbs "Despicable Me," and Fabulous Flowers. As the names indicate, the toys were also various shapes, not just traditional round balls.

2. The toys were sold over the past two years at a variety of stores including Bed Bath & Beyond, Five Below, Hobby Lobby, Lakeshore Learning Materials, Microcenter, Urban Outfitters Direct, Wegmans, as well as at the Universal Studios theme park, and online.

3. The toys represent a serious threat to kids, and they should be taken away immediately. They will not show up on X-rays, but they can cause a blockage in the small intestine, resulting in severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration, and possibly death.

4. Don't fear; you won't be out the money. Maker Dunecraft will send you a replacement toy if you call them at 800-306-4168, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit their website.

Has your baby ever swallowed one of your older kids' toys? What happened?

 

Image via CPSC