[Image : ELC Wooden Toddle Truck Red SKU 141208 ]
Early Learning Centre has issued a notice to its customers reminding them to check the tightness of the screws that attach the wheels to five of its wooden toys.
The toys in question are all wooden walkers, which ELC suggests are suitable from twelve months and that they aid children with their first steps.
The notice is not a public recall nor does the company make any specific reference to safety, however, some customers who have bought these products have stated – via website review pages and on Facebook – that sometimes wheels can come apart from the toys leaving a collection small parts including screws and washers in the hands of young children.
All the hardware used to attach the wheels to the walkers fits into a small parts gauge. A small parts gauge is a piece of equipment used in statutory toy testing to determine whether a part of a toy is suitable for children under three years of age. If these walkers are correctly assembled and intact the toy is safe, however, if the screws do come detached from the main body of the toy then these parts could become a potential choking hazard.
[Image : ELC Wooden Pram Screws and Washers for wheel ]
The affected products are:
- ELC Wooden Pram/Pushchair, £30, catalogue SKU number 141014
- ELC Wooden Activity Kitchen Walker, £45, catalogue SKU number 141012
- ELC Wooden Activity Workbench Walker, £45, catalogue SKU number 141013
- ELC Wooden Toddle Truck Red, £25, catalogue SKU number 141208
- ELC Wooden Toddle Truck Pink, £25, catalogue SKU number 141209
In the notice, ELC stated: “FOLLOWING RECENT CUSTOMER FEEDBACK, WE ARE REMINDING CUSTOMERS TO CHECK THE TIGHTNESS OF THE WHEEL SCREWS FOR THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS … AS PART OF YOUR REGULAR PRODUCT MAINTENANCE PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU REGULARLY CHECK THE TIGHTNESS OF ALL FITTINGS TO PREVENT THEM FROM COMING LOOSE.”
These toys seem to have been withdrawn from sale they are not on the shop shelves and are currently unavailable to buy on websites. ELC were not the only stockists, we believe the affected products were also sold by Mothercare (the current parent company of the brand), Argos, Amazon, Bentalls (of Kingston-Upon-Thames), Debenhams, Littlewoods and Very.
Stores have been issuing refunds or exchanges to concerned owners of these toys but you may have to go to a branch of the store chain where the toy was purchased.
Early Learning Centre have a telephone helpline if you have any further questions or concerns, the number is : 0371 231 3513. Lines are open from 8 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6pm Saturday and 9 am to 5 pm on Sundays. Calls are charge at the national standard rate.
[ Image : ELC Customer Notice Regarding Wooden Walker Toys ]