Infant Entrapment and Suffocation Prompts Stork Craft to Recall More Than 2.1 Million Drop-Side Cribs

From the US Consumer Product Safety Commission:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc., of British Columbia, Canada, today announced the voluntary recall of more than 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs, including about 147,000 Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. The recall involves approximately 1,213,000 units distributed in the United States and 968,000 units distributed in Canada.

CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs, wait for the free repair kit, and do not attempt to fix the cribs without the kit. They should find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side.

The cribs’ drop-side plastic hardware can break, deform, or parts can become missing. In addition, the drop-side can be installed upside-down, which can result in broken or disengaged plastic parts. All of these problems can cause the drop-side to detach in one or more corners. When the drop-side detaches, it creates space between the drop-side and the crib mattress. The bodies of infants and toddlers can become entrapped in the space which can lead to suffocation. Complete detachment of drop-sides can lead to falls from the crib.

CPSC, Health Canada, and Stork Craft are aware of 110 incidents of drop-side detachment; 67 incidents occurred in the United States and 43 in Canada. The incidents include 15 entrapments; 12 in the U.S. and three in Canada. Four of the entrapments resulted in suffocation: a 7-month-old in Gouverneur, N.Y.; a 7-month-old in New Iberia, La.; a 6-month-old in Summersville, W.Va.; and a 9-month-old in Bronx, N.Y. Included in these incidents are 20 falls from cribs; 12 in the U.S. and eight in Canada. Fall injuries ranged from concussion to bumps and bruises. The cribs involved in these incidents had plastic drop-side hardware that had broken, missing, or deformed claws, connectors, tracks, or flexible tab stops; loose or missing metal spring clips; stripped screws; and/or drop-sides installed upside-down.

This recall involves Stork Craft drop-side cribs and Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. This recall does not involve any cribs that do not have a drop-side. This recall does not involve any cribs with metal rod drop-side hardware. It involves only those cribs with plastic trigger and one-hand-system drop-side hardware.

This recall includes Stork Craft cribs with manufacturing and distribution dates between January 1993 and October 2009. This recall also includes Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo that have manufacturing dates between October 1997 and December 2004. The Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo were first sold in the U.S. in July 1998 and in Canada in September 1998. The cribs were sold in various styles and finishes. The manufacture date, model number, crib name, country of origin, and the firm’s name, address, and contact information are located on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board. The firm’s insignia “storkcraft baby” or “storkling” is inscribed on the drop-side teething rail of some cribs. In Stork Craft cribs that contain the “Fisher-Price” logo, this logo can be found on the crib’s teething rail, in the manufacturer’s instructions, on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board, and on the end panels of the Twinkle-Twinkle and Crystal crib models.

Major retailers in the United States and Canada sold the recalled cribs including BJ’s Wholesale Club, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Meijer, Sears, USA Baby, and Wal-Mart stores and online at Amazon.com, Babiesrus.com, Costco.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com from January 1993 through October 2009 for between $100 and $400.

The cribs were manufactured in Canada, China and Indonesia.

For additional information, contact Stork Craft toll-free at (877) 274-0277 anytime to order the free repair kit, or log on to http://www.storkcraft.com

Read this recall in its entirety on CPSC site.

Filed under: Family, Recalls, babies, children, infants, recall, safety

400,000 cribs recalled after 8-month-old dies – Kids and parenting- msnbc.com

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday that Simplicity Inc. is recalling about 400,000 cribs that put babies at risk of death by suffocation.

The commission said consumers should stop using the cribs immediately.

400,000 cribs recalled after 8-month-old dies – Kids and parenting- msnbc.com.

Filed under: Recalls, crib, recall, safety

Fisher-Price Recalls 3-in-1 High Chairs Due to Fall Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: 3-in-1 High Chairs

Units: About 24,000

Importer: Fisher-Price, of East Aurora, N.Y.

Hazard: The seat can fall backwards from high chair frame if the booster seat release is unlatched while the child is in the product. Also, the seat back can detach if not fully snapped in place, posing a fall hazard and risk of serious injury to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received one report of a seat back detaching and child falling out, resulting in a skull fracture.

Description: This recall involves the 3-in-1 High Chair to Booster™, which converts from a high chair to a toddler booster seat. It includes a removable tray, height adjustment and folds for storage. The product number (P5369) is printed on the side of the seat, on a label on the seat pad, and on the product’s packaging.

Sold exclusively at: Target stores nationwide from December 2008 through March 2009 for about $100.

Manufactured in: Mexico

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled high chairs immediately and contact Fisher-Price for instructions and a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Fisher-Price at (800) 432-5437 anytime or visit the firm’s Web site at www.service.mattel.com

Fisher-Price Recalls 3-in-1 High Chairs Due to Fall Hazard.

Filed under: baby, Family, Gear, News, Recalls

Around the Play Yard: January Roundup

Each week or so I’m posting my favorite baby-related finds from around the web:

• I usually don’t include products in the roundup, but I had to share this mint and brown organic onesie from My Baby Rocks.
• Making your own Vanilla Extract, from Bethany Actually. Obviously you wouldn’t use this in your baby’s food, but nice gift, nonetheless.
• Ok, another product website, but Sticks and Stones site has really inspired me to look more closely at the environment around me and create one of these photo alphabet projects for Baby K. This family run business specializes in photo gifts, with photos of letters taken in nature and architecture. Check it out, this would be a cool project to start as our babies start to learn their letters. I’ll post mine as it progresses!
• I’ve collected several newpapers from this year and 2008, mainly election and inauguration news for to show Baby K all of the historical events that took place in the year that she was born and during her first year. How to preserve them? This article from Columbus Dispatch tells how. Whatever you do, don’t laminate!
• Gardening season is just around the corner. Have you thought about Growing Your Own? As in food and herbs? It’s much easier than you think, visit Seeds of Change to get started. More on organic gardening for baby and your family to follow.
• The recall on peanut butter products seems to grow every day. Stay up to date using the FDA’s searchable site.

Filed under: Around the Play Yard, baby, Best Of, DIY, Family, Gear, News, Reading, Recalls, Vanilla, Around the Play Yard, Bethany Actually, clothing, FDA, gardening, Grow Your Own, inspiration, links, memories, My Baby Rocks, newspaper, organic, organic gardening, peanut butter, photography, project, recall, Seeds of Change, Sticks and Stones, vanilla extract

Fisher-Price Recall

From the US CPSC:

Fisher-Price Recalls Simplicity’s Rainforest™ Portable Play Yards Due to Fall and Entrapment Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Rainforest™ Portable Play Yards manufactured by Simplicity Inc. and SFCA Inc.

Units: About 200,000

Manufacturer: Simplicity Inc. and SFCA Inc., of Reading, Pa.

(Note: Simplicity Inc. and SFCA Inc. have not responded to CPSC’s request to recall these products nor have they been responsive to consumer complaints recently received.)

Hazard: One or more rails can collapse unexpectedly, posing a fall or entrapment hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: Due to Simplicity Inc. and SFCA Inc. being unresponsive to consumers via their Hotline and Web site, a significant number of complaints were recently reported. There have been at least 1,350 reports of one or more rails collapsing. There were numerous reports of children receiving bumps and bruises when the side rail collapsed. There were five reports of injuries which included a broken nose, a broken wrist, a mild concussion, a cut to the hand which required stitches, and a chipped tooth.

Description: The recalled play yards are portable and were sold with a bassinet, changing table, and mobile features. The products have a Rainforest™ patterned fabric, Rainforest themed artwork and bear the “Fisher-Price” logo. The Simplicity Inc. model numbers are 5310 RNF, 5310RNFC, and 5310RNFW. The model number is located on a sticker on one of the legs underneath the play yard.

Sold at: Retailers and specialty children’s stores nationwide from January 2007 through January 2009 for about $100.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the play yards immediately. Although it did not manufacture or sell the play yards, Fisher-Price has voluntarily agreed to assist consumers who own the products. Consumers who own one of the recalled play yards with the Fisher-Price logo should contact Fisher-Price to obtain assistance to replace their play yards.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Fisher-Price at (800) 432-5437 anytime or visit the Web site at http://www.service.mattel.com

Filed under: Family, Recalls, Fisher Price, recall

Stork Craft Baby Crib Recall

From US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Stork Craft Recalls More Than 500,000 Cribs; Mattress Support Bracket Failures Create Risk of Entrapment and Suffocation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Stork Craft Baby Cribs

Units: About 535,000

Manufacturer: Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc., of British Columbia, Canada

Hazard: The metal support brackets used to support the crib mattress and mattress board can crack and break. When one or more support brackets break, the mattress can collapse and create a dangerous gap between the mattress and crib rails, in which a child can become entrapped and suffocate.

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC is aware of 10 incidents in which one or more mattress support brackets broke. In several incidents, the support bracket broke causing the mattress to collapse and create a gap between the mattress and crib rails. CPSC received a report of a toddler who sustained bruises to his forehead. In another incident a child reportedly became entrapped in the gap between the mattress and the drop side rail with no injury.

Description: This recall involves Stork Craft Baby cribs. All cribs with manufacturing and distribution dates between May 2000 and November 2008 are included in this recall. The cribs were sold in various styles and finishes. The manufacture date, model number, crib name, country of origin, and the firm’s name, address, and contact information are located on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board. The firm’s insignia “storkcraft baby” is inscribed on the drop side teething rail of some cribs.

Sold at: Major retailers including J.C. Penney, Kmart and Walmart stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, Babiesrus.com, Costco.com and Walmart.com from May 2000 through January 2009 for between $100 and $400.

Manufactured in: Canada, China and Indonesia

Remedy: CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free replacement kit, with new mattress support brackets.

Consumer Contact: Contact Stork Craft toll-free at (866) 361-3321 anytime to order the free replacement kit or log on to http://www.storkcraft.com

Filed under: Family, Recalls, Uncategorized, baby, crib, recall, Stork Craft