Plush Toy Safety UK: Caterpillar Report and What to Check

Plush toy safety comes down to three quick checks: the stitching, anything attached to the toy, and the packaging it arrives in. On 13 October 2026 the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) published a high-risk product safety report on InteDesign plush caterpillar toys sold via Amazon, finding all three types of problem in a single product. The import was rejected at the border, but the same faults can turn up on any soft toy, so this guide covers what the report found and how to check any plush toy before it goes near your baby.

What the OPSS report found

According to the OPSS report (reference 2609-0224, model TT25274-A2, made in China), local authority trading standards tested the multi-coloured plush caterpillar toys and found they do not meet the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011. OPSS rates the risk as high and lists three separate hazards:

• Asphyxiation: the flexible plastic bag the toy is supplied in is larger than 100mm x 100mm and thinner than the minimum required, so a child could suffocate with it over their mouth.
• Choking: the yellow toy had a hole in a back seam, exposing the internal filling, which a child could pull out and swallow.
• Strangulation: the attachment loop on the pink toy detached during testing, leaving an accessible cord that could wrap around a child's neck.

The import was rejected at the border. OPSS's advice for anyone who already has one is to stop using the product, keep it away from children, and contact the seller for a refund or replacement. A closely related report for InteDesign plush toys (reference 2609-0223) was published alongside it, flagging the packaging problem, so if you bought a multi-coloured plush caterpillar or similar toy from a marketplace seller recently, check both notices on the gov.uk alerts list.

Why soft toys are on the list so often

Plush toys look harmless, which is part of the problem. They are made of many small parts (seams, eyes, noses, loops, filling) and every one of them has to survive being pulled, chewed and thrown. RoSPA's toy safety guidance advises parents to check the age range, avoid toys with small components that could detach, and avoid soft toys with loose pile or hair that sheds easily, since these create choking risks. It notes that children under three are especially vulnerable to choking. If you want a refresher on what the markings on a toy mean, see our guide to toy safety standards.

A 60-second check for any plush toy

Check	What to look for
Seams	Tug gently along every seam. Any gap, loose thread or visible filling means the toy isn't safe for a baby.
Attachments	Eyes, noses, bows, buttons and loops should be embroidered or very firmly fixed. Pull on each one. Avoid long cords, ribbons or loops.
Fabric	Rub the pile or fur. If it sheds easily in your hand, RoSPA advises avoiding it.
Labels	Look for a UKCA or CE mark, an age range that fits your child, and a seller or manufacturer name and address. The BTHA Lion Mark is another sign RoSPA mentions.
Packaging	Remove and bin the plastic bag straight away, and don't leave it where a baby can reach it.

These checks aren't a one-off. RoSPA recommends inspecting toys regularly for wear that exposes sharp points or filling, and discarding unsafe toys or having a favourite repaired properly. Washing and rough play loosen seams, so re-check older favourites too.

Soft toys and sleep

Even a perfectly made plush toy doesn't belong in the cot. The Lullaby Trust's safer sleep advice is a clear-cot approach: no pillows or duvets, no cot bumpers and no soft toys or comforters in the baby's sleep space, because they can cover a baby's face and interfere with breathing. Our newborn safe sleep guide covers the full list. Keep cuddly toys for awake, supervised time until your baby is older, and check the Lullaby Trust guidance for when that changes.

Buying from marketplaces and secondhand

The caterpillar toys were sold through a third-party marketplace listing, which is where a lot of border-rejected and non-compliant toys appear. Before buying, check that the listing names a UK or EU seller, shows the age range and carries a conformity mark, and treat very cheap multi-packs of plush toys from unknown sellers with caution. For hand-me-downs, run the same seam and attachment checks and see our guide to buying secondhand baby gear safely. We've also covered other recent toy reports, including squishy toys.

If your baby chokes

If a baby or child is choking on filling or a small part, follow the NHS first aid steps for choking in babies and children, and call 999 if the blockage doesn't clear. It's worth reading the steps before you need them, and keeping the plastic bag and any damaged toy parts away from little hands in the meantime.