My niece is an adorable little girl. I love her so much. She has a little personality and I remember the day she was born. I always remark that she is growing up far too fast. I live pretty far away from her so when I come home to visit, we have a little "girl time" and do all sorts of fun things. We start with cooking. We bake cakes or cookies and decorate them as we talk about school. Then we move on to shopping. Inevitably we wind up at the mall and before we can leave, we go to Build-A-Bear Workshop. My niece and I spend hours there. She picks the bear, the clothes, and the accessories. As we go through the process she names the bear and gives it a personality. She and I create a new memory but when we get home she falls in love with her new friend.

In December 2011 my heart stopped as I read the article about Build-A-Bear recalling its Colorful Hearts Teddy Bear due to a choking hazard. I felt a slight sense of relief reading that there were no reported injuries. The article indicated that there is a danger that the eyes can loosen and fall out, posing a possible choking hazard to children. My niece is far from a toddler, but my heart stopped and I panicked. There are several toddlers and infants that are around my niece very frequently. I scoured the internet until I confirmed what teddy bear was the subject of the recall. After I was sure what I was looking for, I looked through pictures of my niece with her various new BFFs (that is what she calls the completed bears). I relaxed a little when I confirmed that she did not have one of the bears that were subject to recall. There are many products out there that are harmful to children that we are unaware of.

The article said that if your child did have a bear you could bring it back and get a coupon for any in stock teddy bear. I am so glad I did not have to take a cherished toy away from my niece and attempt to replace it. I am mortified to think of the crying and screaming that would have accompanied that conversation. I can also imagine the cost to stop the tears from falling. I also know that as I breathe this sigh of relief, many parents and guardians have to have this difficult conversation.

As adults we trust certain companies and brands, and we share those brands with the children we love and care for. When those companies make mistakes it is a very scary experience. If you or a loved one has been injured by one of these companies, the first thing that needs to happen is to make sure the child is safe. Once you have done that, please contact an attorney that can explain your rights.