Category Archives: Sophie the Giraffe Recall

"Sophie the Giraffe Recall", "Sophie the Giraffe Dangerous" "Sophie the Giraffe Choking Hazard", "Sophie the Giraffe Recall 2010," and "Sophie the Giraffe Recall 2011" seem to have caused plenty of concern, perhaps overconcern, for many parents of infant children considering whether or not to purchase the Giraffe Teething Toy for their baby, or as a gift for someone else's infant.  And, interestingly, "Sophie the Giraffe Recall," "Sophie the Giraffe Dangerous," and "Sophie the Giraffe Choking Hazard," are also internet search terms that enterprising marketers, including Walmart, are using, at least at the time of the writing of this article, to ATTRACT people to BUY Sophie the Giraffe, rather than to inform or warn them of problems or concerns with the infant Giraffe Teether.

The Vulli Sophie the Teething Giraffe has never actually been "recalled"

An extensive review of internet web sites and articles, including Wikipedia, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Vulli manufacturer's and multiple distributors' web sites indicates that, even after 50+ years, Sophie the Giraffe has never been "recalled" as an unsafe toy.  

What About Choking, Toys 'R Us in Canada, Nitrosatables, or "Fake" Sophies?

There are, however, reports of infants choking on the Giraffe Sophie, of Toys R Us voluntarily and temporarily taking Sophie off the shelves pending more investigation, of the German consumer magazine, OKO-TEST claiming that Sophie contains a higher-than-acceptable level of nitrosatable substances, and of "imitation" or "fake" Sophie's being sold. 

Some stores in Canada, like Toys R Us, voluntarily stopped selling Sophie Le Giraffe for a period of time, based on a few reported concerns, primarily of infants choking on the Giraffe Teether's legs.  This brief and selectively small "Sophie the Giraffe Recall" seems to have been short-lived and without merit.  They have since resumed selling the Giraffe Teether.

Additionally, an article in Wikipedia reports that the Sophie the Giraffe was tested by the German consumer magazine, OKO-TEST.  In November of 2011, and again in January of 2012, they reported that the Sophie Giraffe teether had more nitrosatable substances than was allowed by the German Bedarfsgegenstandeverordnung, and, as a result, should not be marketed.  Sophie Le Giraffe's French manufacturer, Vulli, responded and reviewed these, as well as other test results.  Vulli claimed that the EU guidelines for toys, rather than the German Bedarfsgegenstandeverordnung guidlines, applied to their popular infant teething toy, and that Sophie Le Giraffe was manufactured within all acceptable limits and specifications for nitrosatable substances.      

Over 30 Million Sophie Giraffes Have Been Sold in 46 Countries for Over 50+ Years

In general, the huge preponderance of evidence, and especially personal experiences shared over an amazing 50+ years of sales and use in at least 46 countries in the world consistently evaluate and report the spotted Giraffe infant teething toy to be a popular and safe teething toy.  The United States distributor of the spotted Giraffe named Sophie reports on their web site that over 30 million of these remarkable Teething Giraffes have been sold thus far.  

But Even Sophie the Giraffe Can't "Please All the People All the Time"

However, certainly less substantial than a bona fide "Sophie the Giraffe Recall," "Sophie the Giraffe Dangerous," or "Sophie the Giraffe Choking Hazard" there are a few reports from some people that are worthy of attention.  Even Sophie the Spotted Giraffe Teether can't please all the people all the time.

Can the Infant Teething Giraffe Actually Cause Choking?

Though clearly the minority of Sophie Giraffe purchasers and users, some parents have expressed a concern about the Sophie Teething Giraffe being a choking hazard for infants.  Clearly it is possible for infants to cause themselves to gag or choke on Sophie, especially on her legs.  

For example, a small few parents have described their infants chewing on Sophie, then rolling onto their tummy's with the Giraffe teether still in their mouths, pushing the teething toy deeply enough into their throat to cause choking or gagging.  And, in response to these reports, at least as many other parents document and remind us that infants can gag and choke on most anything that they can put into their mouths, including baby blankets, clothing, food, water, and even their own fingers and hands.  

These parents responsibly remind us that infants simply need to be closely supervised, at ALL times.  

Clearly both perspectives are true, as related to Spotted Teething Giraffes, or any other objects that infants might insert into their mouths.  

The Teething Giraffe's legs are small enough for an infant to get them into their mouths.  This, of course, of the object of the Giraffe Teether in the first place, to be used as a teething toy for infants.  Additionally, Sophie's legs are long enough for a baby to push the toy deeply enough into their mouth or throat to cause gagging or choking.  Although this is not typical, it is possible.

Imitation Sophie Le Giraffes?  How Would We Know?

There are also a small few reports of people having received perhaps counterfeit, fake, imitation, "knock-off," or otherwise defective Sophie Giraffe teething toys.  

Most of the problems noted with these "fake" Giraffe Teething Toys involve the paint on the giraffe teether running, fading, flaking, peeling, or smearing.  The few other reports involved Sophie's squeaker breaking too easily or "expelling powder" when Sophie was squeezed; the natural rubber body of the spotted giraffe feeling hard and inflexible, rather than soft and flexible; Sophie's spots appearing to be the wrong colors or legs being of different size or shape than a "real" Sophie; rubber peeling back on the spotted giraffe's body; air bubbles in the molded rubber of Sophie's body; uneven seams in the Teething Giraffe's body; or an unpleasant "rubber" smell.  A few people expressed concerns about their children being able to bite pieces of the rubber off of the spotted teething giraffe.  

Many of these parents created the opportunity to compare their suspected "fake" Sophie with a "real" Sophie, either by purchasing another Giraffe Teether from another location, or comparing their Giraffe Teether against a friend's "real" Giraffe Teether.  These people very often reported that their "fake" Giraffe Infant Teether seemed to be much different, and quite noticably different, from the "real" Sophie, and cautioned about being careful to purchase the "real" Sophie the Giraffe.  

A few parents reported that their child simply didn't much care for chewing on Sophie; a few more complained that their dog DID like to chew on Sophie; and a few noted that Sophie Le Giraffe has latex rubber in it, cautioning about potential allergic reactions to latex rubber.  

What Does the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission Have to Say?

A very few parents complained to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, and encouraged others to do the same.  However, at the time of this writing, the Consumer Product Safety Commission had only three complaints about Sophie the Giraffe:  one complaint about the squeaker falling inside of the giraffe's body, and two complaints about gagging and choking.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission did not recall Sophie the Giraffe.  

How Do We Protect Ourselves From "Fake" Sophies?

Probably the best "protection" from problems with Sophie Le Giraffe would include closely overseeing your infant while playing with the Giraffe Teething Toy, and at all other times as well.  And by purchasing your Teething Giraffe Sophie from a reputable distributor, offering competitive prices, and a solid return policy.  Consistently, one of the best places to buy Sophie Le Giraffe, as well as so many other products, is from Amazon.com.  Amazon.com's reputation and trustworthiness is exceptional, and their return policy is unmatched.

Keep Your Giraffe Clean, but Don't Overdo It

Other precautions to take with Sophie Le Giraffe would include methods of cleaning.  The Giraffe Teether is manufactured from natural rubber, and is soft and pliable, very specifically made for a infant to put into its mouth and chew on, especially during the teething period.  The Teething Giraffe is colored with edible food paint, not meant to withstand ambitious cleaning with abrasive or chemical cleaners, or high temperatures.  Vulli, the French manufacturer of Sophie Le Giraffe, suggests cleaning the teething toy with a simple damp cloth.  Cleaning the Vulli Giraffe Teether in the dishwasher, with hot temperatures of water, or putting Sophie in the microwave oven, would not be appropriate, and could ruin the teether.

This Spotted Giraffe is an Infant Teething Toy, Not a Child or a Dog CHEW Toy

Sophie the Teething Giraffe is also not made to endure being chewed on by small children with teeth and strong jaws.  Nor is it made to endure being chewed on by the family dog.  The infant teether is soft, smooth, very pliable, and not at all made to endure "rough" treatment.

What About Other Teething Toy Options?

Additionally, considering that there IS a slight possibility of an infant choking on the Spotted Giraffe Infant Teether, other teethers could be used in place of Sophie the Giraffe.  Several of these teethers are also made by Vulli, and conveniently distributed by Amazon.com.

Huh?  Seriously?  People Are Using "Sophie the Giraffe Recall," "Sophie the Giraffe Dangerous," and "Sophie the Giraffe Choking Hazard" to SELL Sophie the Giraffe?

A simple Google search quickly reveals an interesting "byproduct" of the "infant choking" and "Sophie the Giraffe Recall" concerns.  A whole host of deceptive web sites and articles, some of which are highly-ranked on Google, are easily located SUGGESTING that their subject material is about the "Sophie the Giraffe Recall," when, in fact, they are actually PROMOTING the Sophie Giraffe Teether.  At the time of the writing of this article, even Walmart had an advertisement, ranked as highly as page two of Google, supposedly about "Sophie the Giraffe Recall," but in fact, promotes the sale of the Teething Giraffe.

Other deceptive articles, supposedly about "Sophie the Giraffe Recall" or "Sophie the Giraffe Dangerous," include:

"Searching for Sophie the Giraffe Recall?  Get the best deals on Sophie the Giraffe Recall and More Now!"

"Unique Results for Sophie the Giraffe Recall in our NEW FREE Online Store Comparison Site.  CHECK IT OUT!"

"Searching for Sophie the Giraffe Recall?  Discover and Compare Hundreds of Sources for Sophie the Giraffe Recall"

"Best Online Results for Sophie the Giraffe Recall – Look at Our 10 Best Options for Your Search on Sophie the Giraffe Recall for FREE!"

"Find Sophie the Giraffe Recall – Browse your Sophie the Giraffe Recall Results and Find What You Need HERE!"

"Vulli Sophie Giraffe Recall Bath Toy – Colors May Vary"

"Vulli Sophie Giraffe Recall Set" 

"Vulli Sophie Giraffe Recall and Chan Blue"

Each of these sites and links are actually PROMOTING the Giraffe Teether, rather than providing helpful information discussing anything about "Sophie the Giraffe Recall" or "Sophie the Giraffe Dangerous."

In the article that you are now reading, links have quite intentionally NOT been provided to the deceptive web site descriptions and links above, so as not to send more internet searchers to the wrong web sites. 

There were even YouTube videos quite easily found, that google has indexed under the keywords "Sophie the Giraffe Recall" or "Sophie the Giraffe Dangerous" that had nothing to do w/Sophie being recalled, but rather of Sophie being enjoyed by their infants.

The Bottom Line

The Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Infant Teething Toy has been sold over 30 million times, throughout the world for over fifty years.  There exist a relatively few reports of choking caused by the giraffe teether, so be sure and supervise your infant (always!), and consider a different teething toy if you are concerned.  Be sure and purchase your Giraffe Infant Teether from a reputable distributor who offers a solid refund policy, like Amazon.com.  Be vigilant about any consumer problems that you purchase, especially for safety issues.  And don't be fooled by deceptive marketing efforts claiming to inform you about "Recall" or "Dangerous" or "Choking Hazard" issues, when in fact, they are actually trying to sell you the product.