Busy Elephant Toy (Playskool) – Cord Entanglement (1990)
Hazard assessment based on recall description.
This AI-generated summary is provided for general informational purposes only and is derived from publicly available recall notices. It supplements but does not replace official agency classifications or safety instructions.
Check Your Product
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Product
Busy Elephant crib toys
Brand
Playskool
Lot Codes / Batch Numbers
Not specified in CPSC notice. Check official source for details.
Playskool is recalling Busy Elephant crib toys. The hazard is: Entanglement. Based on CPSC recall notice.
Summary derived from CPSC notice
The following details were not provided by CPSC: remedy information, UPC codes.
Reason for Recall
As stated by CPSC
May 23, 1990 Release # 90-100 Playskool Offers Free Gift For Busy Elephant Cord; Entanglement Risk Cited WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Playskool, Inc., of Pawtucket, RI, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today announced a repair program for the "Busy Elephant" crib toy Model No. 5405. Some of the Busy Elephants were made in Korea and these have a 5 1/2-inch knit cord which attaches a small stuffed mouse to the Busy Elephant. Playskool has received ten reports of the Korean-made knit cord unraveling into a long thin cord and becoming entangled around the body or neck of a child. Busy Elephants with "Made in China" on the sewn-in label are not affected. For Busy Elephants with "Made in Korea" on the white sewn- in label, Playskool is asking consumers to cut the knit cord at the point where it immediately joins the Busy Elephant and at the other end where it joins a small stuffed mouse. Return the cord to Playskool immediately. A free gift will be provided to consumers who return the knit cord to Playskool. The Busy Elephant is a stuffed elephant approximately 15 inches high with several activity features, such as a clicker dial on one foot, a mirror on the other, and a mouse in a stomach pouch. The mouse is attached to the elephant by the knit cord. The product was distributed nationally through wholesale, retail, variety stores, and chain stores and sold for approximately $19.00. The toy was manufactured between 1987 and 1989. A total of 740,000 Busy Elephants were manufactured, although only 453,000 units made in Korea have the type of knit cord which has the potential for unraveling. CPSC learned of the problem with this crib toy from consumer complaints made to the agency. To help monitor the effectiveness of this repair program, Playskool is offering a gift to consumers who mail in the knit cord. For details of this offer, or if consumers have any questions, call 800-752-9755
Reported concern (CPSC)
Entanglement
Recommended Action
Per CPSC guidance
The CPSC advises consumers to stop using the product. Contact the manufacturer or return the product to the place of purchase.
Verify this information on the official source
For complete details and official instructions, check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) directly.
View official CPSC recall noticePage updated: Jan 6, 2026