A child fingerpainting (file image) (Image: Julian Vera Film via Pexels)
A range of children’s products designed for babies and toddlers have been subject to an urgent recall notice, alongside a common cooking ingredient that nearly proved fatal to a 14-month-old in recent weeks.
Parents are being urged to dispose of the below listed items immediately and to contact the manufacturer for refunds, as all items present a serious risk to families. Eight products, all sold by US-based children’s educational toy maker TheKiddoSpace, have been subject to the urgent recall notice for items sold globally and online.
The kid’s finger painting kits can cause death (Image: Supplied)
Children’s finger-painting kits
Parents are warned that the finger-painting kits contain methanol, ethylene glycol, and a phthalate; substances all deemed to be hazardous and/or toxic.
According to the Australian recall notice, the toy presents a serious health and even death risk if children ingest the finger paint. If touched, skin irritation and swollen lymph nodes can occur.
Children’s sensory swing
The swing’s stretchable fabric can form loops that can wrap around a child’s head or neck, posing a strangulation risk.
The book’s small felt parts can detach, posing a risk of serious injury or death by choking or suffocation (Image: Supplied)
Children’s sensory story book
The book’s small felt components can become detached, posing a risk of serious injury or death by choking or suffocation should a child place the small felt parts in their mouth.
Children’s talking flashcard toys – animal shaped and rectangular
TheKiddoSpace-branded talking flashcard toys were issued between February 2024 to February 2025 for the rectangular variety, and from December 2023 to February 2025 for the animal shaped kind. The USB cable provided with the rectangular-style flashcard toy fails to meet regulations in certain countries prohibiting the use of Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in children’s plastic products. This presents a risk of reproductive harm if youngsters extensively chew or suck on items containing DEHP.
DEHP is heavily restricted in childcare products and playthings in the UK, where concentrations must not exceed 0.1%.
The batteries contained in the animal-style flashcard toy may short circuit, presenting a risk of serious harm or property damage from fire and burns. An incident involving the cable overheating has been reported.
Children’s Montessori Egg Puzzle
The toy – a collection of six or 12 puzzle egg toys featuring different coloured geometric patterns that arrive in a yellow storage egg carton case – presents a risk of serious injury or death through choking or suffocation if the toy is inserted into a child’s mouth.
The felt book poses a choking risk (Image: Supplied)
Children’s Christmas Tree Play Set
The felt play set comprises a double-sided Christmas tree, holiday-themed felt decorations and a storage container. The Christmas tree element includes a music box operated by button batteries.
It has been withdrawn due to the button batteries, which present a choking hazard, alongside risks of internal burns or death if children swallow the batteries. There is also concern that the batteries may short-circuit during operation, potentially causing injury.
Children’s Peg Dolls in Cups
The product fails to meet the mandatory safety standard for toys intended for children aged up to and including 36 months, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The toys contain small parts that present a choking hazard to young children.
LED soccer hover ball (small)
This indoor children’s toy features an LED soccer ball that hovers on a cushion of air. Only the smaller variety with a football size of 5.5″ are subject to the recall, with the batteries used in the toy at risk of overheating. Consumer reports have flagged instances of the product overheating or emitting a burning smell, with the potential for serious burn injuries and/or property damage from fire should the batteries ignite.
Advice for parents
Parents are urged to remove the toys from their children immediately. To obtain a refund from TheKiddoSpace, take a photograph of the faulty toy with ‘recalled’ written on it in marker pen before disposing of the item. Parents can then email the photograph to TheKiddoSpace to receive a full refund.
In the case of the swing toy, destroy it by cutting the fabric in half and submit a photograph of the destroyed item to TheKiddoSpace via email to receive a full refund.
Parents Katie and Chris are going through hell as their 14-month-old son Dustin fights for life in hospital (Image: Seven/GoFundMe)
Metallic cake decorating powder – various colours – by Crumb Australia
Alongside the eight hazardous items sold by the US-based toy manufacturer, a metallic cake decorating powder produced by Crumb Australia has been subject to a recall notice across all colours, after 14-month-old Dustin Wildman inhaled the baking ingredient.
He was placed into a medically induced coma following the inhalation of the toxic substance and required surgery to extract the material from his lungs, as the dust solidified into a paste-like consistency once inhaled.
Subsequent medical testing confirmed the powder contained both copper and zinc compounds, prompting serious concerns and raising questions regarding the product’s labelling, as well as its placement on shelves alongside edible decorating ingredients.
According to the ACCC, “these cake decorating powders may contain copper and zinc dust which can be toxic if inhaled or ingested”. Anyone who has the product at home is urged to dispose of it immediately, regardless of the date of purchase or colour. The products were sold in Australia as well as internationally and online between August 1, 2019 and May 6, 2026.
Dustin is now conscious, breathing independently, and recovering at home, according to his mother, who shared the welcome news in a social media post on Monday, revealing he had been discharged from hospital.
Sadly, he has been left with permanent lung injuries as a result of the harrowing ordeal.
