If your family bought a Heartwarming Hugs Bear from Build-A-Bear Workshop earlier this year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is asking you to stop using it now.

Build-A-Bear Workshop has recalled approximately 36,000 Heartwarming Hugs Bears due to a choking hazard. The recall involves the zipper slider on the bear's side pouch — a compartment that holds about 2.5 pounds of ceramic heating and cooling beads. The CPSC determined that the zipper slider can detach from the pouch, potentially exposing the bead contents to young children.

The bears were sold at Build-A-Bear Workshop stores nationwide between January and March 2026 and were priced at approximately $48. One zipper detachment has been reported in the United Kingdom. No injuries have been reported in the United States.

What Families Should Do Now

The remedy is straightforward. Families should stop using the bear immediately and return it to any Build-A-Bear Workshop store location. No receipt is required. In exchange, customers will receive either a full refund or a gift card for the original purchase price.

If you are not sure whether your bear is included in the recall, check whether it is a Heartwarming Hugs Bear with a side zipper pouch containing ceramic beads. If it matches that description and was purchased between January and March 2026, it is part of the recall.

For additional information, parents can visit cpsc.gov or contact Build-A-Bear Workshop customer service directly through buildabear.com.

Why Bead Pouch Products Carry Risk for Young Children

Ceramic beads are a common component in heating and cooling stuffed animal products marketed to families. They are typically small, rounded, and smooth — and while they serve a functional purpose for warming or cooling the toy, they present a choking hazard if they become accessible to children under three years of age.

The CPSC recommends that any stuffed animal or plush product with removable or detachable components be kept away from children under three. If a component shows signs of loosening — including zipper pulls, buttons, or stitched seams — the product should be set aside until it can be repaired or returned.

What's Next

Build-A-Bear Workshop stores across Colorado Springs and the broader region are accepting returns of the recalled bears with no purchase receipt required. Parents can locate the nearest Build-A-Bear location at buildabear.com.

The CPSC continues to monitor reports associated with this recall. Families with additional concerns about product safety can search the full recall database at cpsc.gov, which is updated each time a new recall is announced.