Autobrush Recalls 48,000 Kids' Toothbrush Boxes Over a Hidden Button Battery: What Families Should Do
Autobrush has recalled about 48,000 Sonic Pro Kids toothbrush delivery boxes after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found a lithium coin battery hidden inside the packaging that young children can reach and swallow. The recall covers the decorative character boxes, not the toothbrush itself, and it is tied to Reese's Law, the federal coin battery safety standard. If your family bought one of these kits, the safest move is to keep the box away from children, mark it as recalled, and claim the refund.
This is a packaging safety story rather than a toothbrush performance story, but for parents of toddlers and preschoolers the distinction matters less than the risk. A swallowed coin battery can burn through a child's esophagus in as little as two hours. Below is what was recalled, why coin batteries are uniquely dangerous, and the practical steps families can take today.
What exactly did Autobrush recall?
Autobrush recalled the delivery boxes for its Sonic Pro Kids electric toothbrush, roughly 48,000 units, because a lithium coin cell battery sits in a small speaker on the underside of the white tray inside the box. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice published on April 23, 2026, a child can access that battery, and swallowing it can cause internal chemical burns and death. The packaging also failed to carry the warning labels that federal law now requires for products containing coin batteries.
The affected boxes feature four animal characters. The kits were sold on TryAutobrush.com from March 2023 through December 2025 for roughly 85 to 90 dollars. The importer is Lander Enterprises LLC, doing business as Autobrush, of Miami, Florida, and the product was manufactured in China. No injuries had been reported at the time of the recall.
| Recall detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Product | Autobrush Sonic Pro Kids toothbrush boxes |
| Characters affected | Unity the Unicorn, Lenni the Lion, Harley the Hippo, Danny the Dinosaur |
| Units | About 48,000 |
| Sold | TryAutobrush.com, March 2023 to December 2025 |
| Price | About 85 to 90 dollars |
| Hazard | Accessible lithium coin battery in the box; ingestion risk |
| Remedy | Five dollar store credit after photo proof of disposal |
Key facts at a glance
- About 48,000 boxes recalled. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice, April 23, 2026.
- A child visits a U.S. emergency department for a battery-related injury about every 75 minutes. Source: study published in Pediatrics, 2022, led by Nationwide Children's Hospital researchers, analyzing 2010 to 2019 data.
- 84 percent of those battery-injured children are age 5 or younger, and button batteries were involved in 85 percent of identified cases. Source: same 2022 Pediatrics study.
Why is a coin battery in a toothbrush box dangerous?
A coin or button battery is dangerous because when it lodges in a child's throat it generates an electrical current that triggers a chemical reaction, burning surrounding tissue within a couple of hours. Unlike a swallowed coin, a battery does not need to leak to cause harm. Saliva completes the circuit, and the resulting hydroxide can erode the esophagus, sometimes with fatal consequences even after the battery is removed.
That is why the packaging detail in this recall is not a technicality. A glossy character box that lives in a child's bathroom or bedroom, with an accessible battery tucked under a speaker, is exactly the kind of everyday item that safety regulators worry about. The recall was issued under Reese's Law, the federal statute named for Reese Hamsmith, a toddler who died after swallowing a coin battery. The law directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to require secure battery compartments and clear warnings on consumer products that use these batteries.
How common are button battery injuries in kids?
Button battery injuries in children are both common and rising. Researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital, publishing in the journal Pediatrics in 2022, found that a child under 18 visits a U.S. emergency department for a battery-related injury roughly every 75 minutes, more than double the rate seen from 1990 to 2009. Ingestions accounted for 90 percent of the visits, and the youngest children bore the heaviest burden.
"Button batteries remain a serious hazard in the home that can cause severe, and even life-threatening, injury if swallowed by a child."
Dr. Gary A. Smith, MD, DrPH, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital
For dental families, the overlap is worth noting. Oral care gadgets aimed at children, from light-up toothbrushes to musical timers, increasingly contain small electronics, and small electronics often mean coin batteries. That makes the bathroom, a room parents rarely childproof as carefully as the kitchen, a place worth a second look.
What should parents do right now?
Parents who own an Autobrush Sonic Pro Kids kit should immediately separate the delivery box from their child and claim the refund. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Autobrush outline these steps:
- Keep the box out of reach of children until you dispose of it.
- Write the word "Recalled" on the box in permanent marker.
- Photograph the marked box.
- Email the photo to [email protected] to receive a five dollar store credit.
- Dispose of the box safely after you have your proof and credit.
Autobrush also lists a recall support line at 844-656-3217, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time on weekdays, and a recall page at tryautobrush.com/pages/recall. The toothbrush itself is not part of the recall, so you can keep using it.
Does this mean electric toothbrushes are unsafe for children?
No, electric toothbrushes are not unsafe for children when the batteries are properly secured, and pediatric dentists broadly support powered brushing for kids who struggle with manual technique. The problem here is the accessible battery in the packaging, not brushing itself. If you are unsure whether a device in your home has a secure battery compartment, a quick check is simple: any lid that a child can pop open with fingernails, or a battery that falls out when the device is shaken, is a red flag.
Families who want guidance on choosing safe, age-appropriate oral care tools can also ask their child's dentist. A practice such as Hurst Pediatric Dentistry in Hurst, Texas, and other pediatric offices listed on Smile Listing routinely help parents pick brushes, review technique, and spot household hazards during checkups. If you do not yet have a pediatric dental home, a checkup is a good moment to raise product safety questions alongside the usual cavity and fluoride conversation.
How can families lower button battery risk at home?
Families can lower button battery risk by treating these batteries like any other household poison. Practical steps include storing loose batteries in a locked or high cabinet, choosing products with screw-secured battery compartments, and taping shut any compartment that opens easily. If you suspect a child has swallowed a battery, do not wait for symptoms. Call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 800-498-8666 or your local poison control center, and go to an emergency department right away, because early imaging and removal reduce the risk of severe injury.
Frequently asked questions
Which Autobrush products are affected?
The recall covers the Sonic Pro Kids toothbrush delivery boxes featuring Unity the Unicorn, Lenni the Lion, Harley the Hippo, and Danny the Dinosaur, sold on TryAutobrush.com from March 2023 through December 2025. The toothbrush inside is not recalled.
Have any children been hurt?
No injuries had been reported when the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall on April 23, 2026. The recall is a preventive action because the battery is accessible and the packaging lacked required warnings.
What refund is offered?
Autobrush is offering a five dollar store credit. To claim it, mark the box "Recalled," photograph it, and email the photo to [email protected], then dispose of the box.
Where can I read the official notice?
The full recall is posted on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website. You can also learn about the federal coin battery standard through the CPSC's Reese's Law materials.
Sources and further reading
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Autobrush recall notice
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, study on rising pediatric battery injuries (Pediatrics, 2022)
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Reese's Law coin battery standard
Updated July 2026. This recall was announced on April 23, 2026, and the refund program remains active. Details are drawn from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and cited research. Always confirm the latest guidance with CPSC.gov and, in an emergency, seek immediate medical care.
