CPSC, Playwell Toy Announce Recall of Xylophone Mallets
Kids’ product recall 99-009. Announced by CPSC on Oct 15, 1998.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own notice is on cpsc.gov.
The short answer
Announced by CPSC on Oct 15, 1998. Copied from CPSC on Oct 19, 2026.
- Approximately 200,000 individually sold xylophones, 150,000 Little Ones® Infant three-piece musical gift sets, and 1,800 Little Ones® Infant five-piece musical gift sets units, as CPSC gives them
- Reported injuries, in the notice (needs attention)
Every line below is in CPSC’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
The rounded ends of the xylophone mallets are smaller in diameter than the 1.75-inch standard for small balls. The mallets can get stuck in the throats of young children, blocking their airways, and possibly causing death.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
What should you do?
Firm no longer in business. Recall remedy no longer available. Discard the product. Do not donate or resell.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: The firm is out of business. Consumers should call the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).
Which ones are recalled?
The xylophones are mostly white with a red button and yellow handle. The metal bars on the xylophones are red, yellow, green and blue, and the mallets are red. The individually sold xylophones have stickers on them reading, “PLAYWELL. . . SOUND TOY SERIES.” Their packaging reads, “Music World Xylophone . . . Playwell . . . Item No: 044073.” The three-piece Little OnesTM Infant musical gift sets consist of a toy xylophone and mallet, an accordion and a tambourine. The five-piece set consists of a xylophone, tambourine, harmonica and two maracas. All the instruments are multi-colored plastic. The sets are packaged in a box that reads, in part, “Little OnesTM Infant . . . Ages 6 Months and over . . . Hours of musical fun!” Each musical instrument has “MADE IN CHINA” printed on it.
Approximately 200,000 individually sold xylophones, 150,000 Little Ones® Infant three-piece musical gift sets, and 1,800 Little Ones® Infant five-piece musical gift sets units, as CPSC gives them.
Individually sold xylophones, Little Ones® Infant three-piece musical gift sets, and Little Ones® Infant five-piece musical gift sets.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
CPSC’s photos
CPSC shows 1 photo on its notice. Hearth Record doesn’t copy them; each opens on cpsc.gov.
Who made and sold it?
- Made by Right Start.
- Made by Playwell Toy.
- Made by Target.
- Made by Kmart.
- Made in China, as the notice gives it.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Was anyone hurt?
CPSC and Playwell Toy were aware of one serious injury to a 6-month-old baby girl who suffered severe brain damage when the mallet became lodged in her throat.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- The notice lists no UPCs, so check the model, the description and the photos.
- The notice lists no model numbers in a field of their own; its description may give them.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Recalls API.
Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Recalls of kids’ and home products are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record. Copied on Oct 19, 2026.