Target Pillowfort Weighted Blankets Recall Issued After Child Suffocation Deaths

The recall comes following reports of two young girls becoming trapped and suffocating in the blankets

More than 200,000 weighted blankets sold at Target Stores have been recalled, following at least two reports of children suffocating to death after becoming trapped in the heavy Pillowfort blankets.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the Target Pillowfort recall on December 22, instructing consumers to stop using the weighted blankets immediately due to the risk that young children may become trapped by unzipping and entering the blanket, which could lead to death by asphyxiation.

To date, Target and the CPSC has become aware of at least four reports of children becoming trapped in the Pillowfort weighted blankets. Two of the reports included a four-year-old girl and a six-year-old girl from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, who were killed in April 2022, after suffocating to death inside the blankets.

The recall impacts an estimated 204,000 Pillowfort Weighted Blankets measuring 60 inches long and 40 inches wide, which contain a removable and washable cover. The blankets weigh approximately six pounds and were sold in eight prints or colors including unicorn white, space navy, pink, blue, gray, buffalo plaid red, blue constellation, and unicorn pink.

The recalled weighted blankets are marked with the following item numbers, which are printed on the fabric tag attached to the removable covers of the blankets.

• 097-02-0140 (Unicorn – White)
• 097-02-0148 (Space Navy)
• 097-02-0361(Pink)
• 097-02-0363 (Blue)
• 097-02-0364 (Gray)
• 097-02-1603 (Buffalo Plaid – Red)
• 097-02-3904 (Blue Constellation)
• 097-02-3905 (Unicorn – Pink)

The Pillowfort weighted blankets were manufactured in China and sold exclusively at Target stores throughout the U.S. and online at target.com from December 2018 through September 2022 for $40.

Customers are being instructed to stop using the recalled Pillowfort weighted blankets immediately and to keep them away from children. Target is offering customers a refund for the products which can be obtained by contacting the retailer at 800-440-0680 or by visiting www.target.com and navigating to the “Recall Information” section.