Karmactive Staff
A popular children’s toy has been pulled from shelves after causing a tragic death. Backyard Kids, LLC has recalled 192,000 KidKraft Farm to Table Play Kitchens due to a dangerous strangulation hazard that killed a toddler last year.
“These products pose a strangulation and asphyxia hazard and a risk of serious injury or death to young children who are climbing on the counter or crawling through the opening at the back of the play kitchens,” states the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in its official recall notice.
The problem involves plastic or metal hooks used to hang toy kitchen accessories. These hooks can catch on children’s clothes when kids climb on the playset.
In February 2023, a 23-month-old boy in Oregon died after his shirt got caught on one of these hooks. He couldn’t free himself and died from asphyxiation.
“Children’s clothing can get caught on the hooks used to hold toy kitchen accessories, such as play pots and pans,” the CPSC explains in recall notice 25-415.
The recall covers all KidKraft Farm to Table Model Play Kitchens with model number 53411. Parents can find this number on a sticker on the back. The black and light gray kitchens have wood-like countertops and measure about 44 inches long, 13¾ inches wide, and 43 inches high.
These play sets sold online through KidKraft.com, Amazon, and Walmart from 2018 through July 2025. Prices ranged from $120 to $270. Though 192,000 units are being recalled, Backyard Kids sold only about 400 of these directly.
The recall features an unusual business situation. KidKraft, Inc., the original maker, filed for bankruptcy in May 2024 and cannot handle the recall. Backyard Kids bought the remaining stock after KidKraft’s bankruptcy and stepped in to manage the safety response.
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“KidKraft, Inc. filed for bankruptcy in May 2024. Backyard Kids has agreed to provide free replacement hooks to all consumers with affected units as a part of this recall,” the company announced.
Parents with these play kitchens should stop using them right away and remove the original hooks. Backyard Kids offers free replacement hooks to all affected customers.
To get replacement parts, parents must contact Backyard Kids and send a photo showing they’ve removed the dangerous hooks. Call 800-882-0234 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, email [email protected], or visit the company’s recall website.
This incident highlights the importance of toy safety standards and childproofing. The CPSC reports 10 toy-related deaths and about 154,700 emergency room visits for children 12 and under in 2023. Strangulation remains a leading cause of toy-related deaths.
Safety experts recommend parents regularly check toys for potential hazards and properly anchor furniture to prevent climbing accidents. For children under three, extra vigilance is needed as they can’t recognize many safety risks.
The recalled play kitchens were meant for children ages 3 and older, but the victim was younger. This tragic case shows why parents must consider how younger siblings might interact with toys designed for older children and the need for creating a safe play environment.
