Cape Town - At first, the doll appears to have a fever.
Children get to play doctor and comfort their own sick baby by listening to its heart, taking its temperature, and holding the baby close for comfort.
The baby cries and its cheeks get red as it gets sicker and sicker.
But that’s not all.
Retailer Game, which sells the pink-clad doll exclusively, have discovered a “defect in the circuit board in the chest (of the doll) which can cause it to overheat and the surface of the doll to get hot”. Too hot, in fact.
So much so, that its surface could get hot enough to cause burns or blisters.
Game and the National Consumer Commission (NCC) recalled the My Sweet Love Cuddle Care baby doll on Wednesday.
As of Wednesday, no injuries had been reported to Game.
American retailer Walmart, which owns a majority share in Game’s parent company Massmart, recalled 174 000 dolls two weeks ago for similar problems. There were at least two reports of burns from the dolls in the US.
Game and NCC issued a recall in response to the recalls in the US and Canada.
Game and NCC sent notices to 14 newspapers nationwide.
By late Wednesday, no dolls had been returned yet.
When the Cape Times visited a local Game store, all Cuddle Care dolls had been removed from the shelves. Those who have bought the dolls can return them at any Game store, with or without packaging or accessories, for a full refund. - Cape Argus