Target is recalling approximately 204,000 weighted blankets after two young girls died of asphyxiation earlier this year, according to federal regulators.
The Pillowfort weighted blankets are being recalled by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission because children can become entrapped inside them by unzipping and entering the blanket, increasing the risk of asphyxiation.
In April, a 4-year-old girl and a 6-year-old girl became entrapped in blankets at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and died from asphyxia, according to federal officials.
Target has received two additional reports of children becoming entrapped in the blankets, according to the CPSC.
The blankets, which were made in China, were sold for $40 in Target stores nationwide and online from December 2018 to September 2022.
The blankets weigh six pounds and measure 60 inches long by 40 inches wide. The covers are removable, waterproof, and machine washable. They are available in eight different prints or colours, and affected blankets have a fabric tag attached to the removable covers that reads:
How to Get a Target Refund for Recalled Weighted Blankets
The CPSC and Target are urging anyone who purchased the blankets to stop using them immediately and contact Target for a refund.
Purchasers can call 800-440-0680 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET daily to receive a prepaid return label to mail or return the blankets to any Target location.
Those who return the blankets will receive a $40 Target credit.
Target told USA TODAY that it is in the process of notifying known consumers about the blanket.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences and support to the families who have lost loved ones. As soon as we became aware of the situation, we began removing Pillowfort Weighted Blankets from our inventory and removed all of these items from sale “Target stated. “If a guest has any of these products, they should stop using them immediately and return them to Target for a full refund.”
