Walmart Recalls 174,000 My Sweet Love/My Sweet Baby Dolls Because Burnt Flesh Isn’t So Sweet

Though a handful of kids’ dolls have been known to become possessed by the souls of deceased serial killers — not to mention the occasional murderous, self-aware ventriloquist dummy — it’s generally accepted that dolls are not supposed to hurt the children who play with them. That’s why Walmart has issued a recall on 174,000 dolls that can overheat and cause burns or blisters.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the My Sweet Love / My Sweet Baby electronic baby doll was sold exclusively at Walmart starting in March 2012. It’s a 16″ doll in pink floral clothing and matching knit hat, packaged with a toy medical check-up kit including a stethoscope, feeding spoon, thermometer and syringe.

Inside the doll is a circuit board that allows the doll to signal via babbling noises when it’s “sick.” But the CPSC says that board can overheat, causing the surface of the doll to get hot, posing a burn hazard to the consumer.

There are currently a dozen known incidents of overheated dolls, with at least two incidents involving burns or blisters.

The recalled doll has a UPC code of 6-04576-16800-5 and a date code which begins with WM. The date code is printed on the stuffed article label sewn into the bottom of the doll.

Consumers who own one of these dolls should immediately take the toy away from children, remove the batteries and return the doll to any Walmart store for a full refund.

People with questions can call WalMart at (800) 925-6278 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT on Saturday, and from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT on Sunday.

by Chris Morran via Consumerist