Mother issues warning after baby nearly chokes on popular teething toy
Mum to a six-month-old baby, Katie Jones, has shared a warning on her Facebook page after her daughter Paige had begun to choke on popular French teething toy ‘Sophie the Giraffe’, when one of the legs of the toy became lodged down the child’s throat.
The mum had left to get something in the kitchen and made the terrifying discovery that her daughter was choking when she returned.
“I had to unhook it free and pull out the leg from the back of her throat. I was absolutely terrified,”, Katie said in a post she uploaded to her Facebook, warning other parents of the dangers of the toy, adding:
“I didn’t think it could happen. I’m shocked. Now looking at Sophie I realise how long the legs are and how dangerous this could potentially be to babies who love to chew. Please note my daughter is fine. Yet the memories of it will stay with me forever. Please share this post to forewarn other mums. Don’t leave your child unattended with this teether.”
In an email to Yahoo Parenting, Calisson Inc., the U.S. distributor of Sophie the Giraffe, said the teething toy is not a choking hazard: “Sophie the giraffe complies with all U.S and European safety standards forchildren for over 50 years and is a wonderful toy,” they said, with the brand itself adding:
“We became aware yesterday of this individual’s Facebook post of 9th July. No complaint has been made and they have not been in touch with us as of yet. Reading the Facebook post, we understand there has been no injury or harm caused. We take safety very seriously and thoroughly investigate any complaints we receive.”