Dangerous Christmas Toy Sold Online Poses Ingestion Risk to Children, CPSC Issues Urgent Disposal Warning

Families who purchased a light-up Nativity Advent Calendar toy for the holidays are being urged to stop using it immediately due to serious safety risks. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the toy violates federal safety standards and presents a life-threatening ingestion hazard to children due to its accessible button cell batteries.

The toy set, labeled as a “Nativity Advent Calendar,” includes 25 small parts that make up a traditional nativity scene, with a light-up manger powered by three LR44 button cell batteries. According to the CPSC, the battery compartment is not secure enough to prevent access by children, making it possible for them to swallow the batteries. Ingestion of these batteries can result in severe internal injuries or even death. The seller, a China-based company operating under the name Shipeng Zhuo, has not agreed to a recall or offered a remedy to consumers.

Sold online through Amazon from August 2024 to March 2025 for approximately $37, the toy may also have been available through other sellers or platforms. The product can be identified by the model number ST-012s, which is printed on the bottom of the box. Manufactured in China, the toy violates the U.S. safety regulations that require child-resistant battery compartments in toys.

Consumers are instructed not to resell, gift, or continue using the toy. Instead, it should be disposed of immediately, with special care given to properly discarding or recycling the batteries according to local hazardous waste guidelines. Any incidents related to the toy can be reported at SaferProducts.gov. The warning underscores the importance of checking toys for safety certifications, especially those bought online from international sellers.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission press release

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