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How to spot a sketchy toy listing
A 60-second check before you click "buy." Most of these come from the CPSC's own advice, and the rest from what we see in recall data every week.
- The brand is a random string of capitals (like "GBYMIUY" or "STWUQIKONG"). Those are real recalled seller names in CPSC data.
- There's no age grade, or the ages conflict ("18M+" in the photo, "3+" on the box).
- "Montessori" is doing a lot of work in the title. Many 2026 recalls were "Montessori" busy boards and teethers.
- The price is far below established retailers (a CPSC tip).
- There's no manufacturer or importer name or address, or the listing is full of misspellings (CPSC).
- When it arrives: a strong chemical smell, or an oily or sticky feel (CPSC).
- Loose magnets, a battery door without a screw, or water beads.
- No tracking label on the toy or packaging (required for children's products).
- The listing photos show a baby with a toy labeled 3+.
If you already bought one
- Search the CPSC recalls database for the product name and seller.
- Trust your nose: a strong chemical smell is a reason to toss it.
- Keep anything questionable away from under-3s and out of beds.
- Report problems at SaferProducts.gov.
We keep a short list of recent, credible product alerts here: Product alerts. Reading reviews? How to spot fake reviews.