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Two Moms Share Terrifying Stories About the Dangers of Fidget Spinners

Photo credit: Johely Morelos / Lindsey Murray
Photo credit: Johely Morelos / Lindsey Murray

From Good Housekeeping

Most kids can't get enough of their fidget spinners, but after a slew of injuries, some moms are saying they should be pulled from the shelves.

Johely Morelos cautioned her son Cayden about the dangers of fidget spinners after seeing a news story about a Texas girl who choked on a loose part, but that didn't stop the 5-year-old from popping off a piece of his own spinner and swallowing it. "I showed him pictures and said, 'Never put that in your mouth,'" the 23-year-old mom in Albany, Oregon told BuzzFeed News. "I guess he didn't listen that well."

Morelos rushed her son the hospital, but the staff was unable to get the part out of his chest. He was transported to another hospital in Portland where the disc had to be surgically removed. "It was super scary," said Morelos. "When they were putting a tube down his throat, he was throwing up blood. It was really scary for me to see he was in pain."

Cayden recovered quickly from his surgery, but according to BuzzFeed, Morelos now wants these fidget spinners to be recalled and labeled with the appropriate choking hazard warnings. She has taken to Facebook to warn moms about the choking risks associated with these popular toys.

And choking isn't the only hazard. Carol Woods, a Missouri-based mom, told BuzzFeed that her 3-year-old son was injured after a piece of his spinner got lodged on his middle finger. Woods tried to remove it, but ultimately had to take her son to an urgent care center, and eventually the ER, where doctors used two to three different tools before finally cutting the metal piece off.

After her scary experience, she is hoping for more awareness for parents around the risks that come along with these popular toys. "I think it would be nice to know that these bearings can come out, when [kids] drop it," she told BuzzFeed News. Because of these injuries, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced that they are taking a closer look at these products.

"CPSC is investigating the incidents with kids swallowing fidget spinners in Texas and Oregon," the agency wrote in a statement to ABC News. "We advise parents to keep these away from young children because they can choke on small parts. Warn older children not to put fidget spinners in their mouths."

Experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute explained that these types of injuries occur because many of fidget spinners on the market are not properly labeled with age ratings or appropriate choking hazard warnings for children. According to the CPSC, any toy that is marketed for use by children must be labeled if they pose potential choking hazards.

When tested in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Consumer Electronics and Engineering lab, our experts found that both branded and knock-off spinners broke into pieces that could be considered a potential choking hazards for children under the age of three. They suggest steering clear of giving fidget spinners, or any other toys with small bits and pieces, to babies and toddlers until their fourth birthday. "Parents can test an object at home by using a toilet paper roll. If it fits through, it is cause for concern," explains Rachel Rothman, the Good Housekeeping Institute's Chief Technologist and Director of Engineering.

Rothman adds that it's also important to keep these choking hazards in mind even with older children, like Morelos' 5-year-old son. "For kids 3-6, make sure they are being supervised if using a spinner. For older kids, it's still worth having a conversation to inform them of the potential dangers."

If your kids are playing with fidget spinners, the Good Housekeeping Institute recommends that parents take the following precautions:

  • Check for small parts. Anything that has a small part, or could conceivably be broken down through use or misuse into small parts should be kept away from young children. While there is a standard for testing the size, a simple at home test is to see if any component could fit through a toilet paper roll.

  • Get rid of broken toys: Beyond the potential for a choking hazard, they may also lead to unintended sharp edges that can lead to injury.

  • Read the labeling. Check the recommended age rating on the toy to make sure they are appropriate for your child's age range. Be particularly diligent if you have younger kids at home who may try to play with an older sibling's toys.

  • Supervision is key. Even if there is no warning on the toy being tested, nothing takes the place of a parent keeping an eye on their child.

  • Register your product. By doing so, you'll be alerted if your toy has been recalled. Or sign up for a recall alert at recalls.gov.

  • Notify the CPSC with any problems. Go to saferproducts.gov and you can report product issues online, by phone, email or postal mail. All reports are reviewed, and consumers can view your report if you give them permission to help others make more responsible choices.

Whether your children have fidget spinners or not, these stories serve as a good reminder to keep close tabs on what they are playing with. According to the CPSC, choking is a leading cause of injury and death in young children so knowing the toys that may have smaller parts can only help keep your kids safe.

GoodHousekeeping.com has reached out to both Morelos and Woods for comment. We will update this post as new information becomes available.

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