Image Source: Cspc.gov
When you own a child care center , your number one priority must be to keep children safe by maintaining a secure and healthy environment. Infants may be at risk of entrapment, suffocation, strangulation, injury or asphyxiation if childcare products prove to be faulty.
Parents and child care providers MUST check regularly with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall list which can be found at cpsc.gov. You can even sign up to be on an email list which will inform you of current recalls. They continually updated the recall list, so be sure to check frequently for recalls on toys, cribs, and child care equipment. Depending on the severity of the recall, the manufacturer might mail kits with parts to repair faulty products. Sometimes consumers are told to take the product back to where they were purchased for refunds, store credits or replacement items.
Recent Children’s Products Recalls, April 2012
In order to reduce the risk of injury or even death of children in your care, it is important to take note of the following product recalls. All information is taken directly from the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website. Here are SOME of the most recent product recalls:
April 26, 2012: Manhattan Group Recalls Baby Rattles Due to Choking Hazard
Name of Product: Whoozit® Starry Time Rattle, Imported by Manhattan Group LLC, of Minneapolis, Minn. “The clear spheres on each end of the rattle can break, releasing small parts, posing a choking hazard to small children.” This recall involves Whoozit® Starry Time baby rattles. The plastic rattles feature three colored (orange, aqua blue and purple) stars stacked front to back between two clear spheres on a flexible stem. The rattle measures about 5-1/2-inches long. Each clear ball, located at the end of the rattle, measures 1-3/4 inches in diameter. The clear rattles contain small multi-colored beads and a white plastic disc featuring a blue smiling character face inside. The name of the product is printed on the hang tag.Consumers should immediately take these rattles away from young children and return it to the store where purchased for a full refund. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Manhattan Group toll-free at (800) 541-1345 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.manhattantoy.com
April 26, 2012: Target Recalls Bunny Sippy Cups Due to Injury Hazard
Name of Product: Target Home Bunny Sippy Cup, Imported by Target Corporation; Minneapolis, Minn. “The ear on the bunny sippy cup can poke a child in the eye area while using the cup for drinking, posing an injury hazard.” The recall involves two styles of Target Home Bunny Sippy Cups. The cups come with handles on both sides in pink and blue, female and male. Each contains a corresponding white bunny head screw-on lid and one bent ear and one straight ear. The cups can be identified by imprints on the bottom: “TARGET 200020683″ for pink and “TARGET 200020884″ for the blue. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled sippy cups and return them to any Target store for a full refund. For additional information, contact Target at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.target.com.
April 24, 2012: Girls’ Jackets Recalled by Louise Paris; Waist Drawstrings Pose Entanglement Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Ross Stores
Name of Product: “Me Jane” and “B-Hip Kids by Me Jane” girls’ jackets with faux fur trim, Imported by Louise Paris Ltd., of New York, N.Y. “The jackets have drawstrings at the waist that could become snagged or caught in small spaces or vehicle doors and pose an entanglement hazard to young children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines about drawstrings in children’s upper outerwear. In 1997, those guidelines were incorporated into a voluntary standard. Then, in July, 2011, based on the guidelines and voluntary standard, CPSC issued a federal regulation. CPSC’s actions demonstrate a commitment to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on neck and waist drawstrings in upper outerwear, such as jackets and sweatshirts.” This recall involves two girls’ polyfill jackets with faux-fur trim around the hoods and drawstrings at the waist. They were sold under the labels “Me Jane Kids” or “B-Hip Kids by Me Jane”, and the labels bearing these names are found at the back neck of the garments. The jackets were sold in youth sizes 4- 6X and 7-16. These jackets were also labeled by sizes S, M, L. One style labeled “Me Jane Kids” is fleece with front drawstrings with toggles at the ends and sold in the following colors: green, charcoal grey and black. Other “Me Jane Kids” or “B-Hip Kids by Me Jane” brand labeled bubble jackets have drawstrings on the back, no toggles and were sold in the following colors: purple, black, pink, coffee, and cream. Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the jackets to eliminate the hazard and contact Louise Paris for instructions on how to receive a full refund. For additional information, please contact Louise Paris at (877) 537-7517 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or at complaints@louiseparis.com
April 12, 2012: Nan Far Woodworking Recalls to Repair Drop-Side Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards
Name of Product: Rockland Furniture Drop-side Cribs, Manufactured by Nan Far Woodworking Co. Ltd., of Taiwan and Imported by J.C. Penney Purchasing Corp., of Plano, Texas. “The cribs’ drop sides can malfunction, detach or otherwise fail, causing part of the drop side to fall out of position, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged or entrapped, which can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A child can also fall out of the crib. Drop-side incidents can also occur due to incorrect assembly and with age-related wear and tear.” This recall includes Rockland Furniture brand drop-side cribs imported and sold by jcpenney from 2005 to 2008. The wooden cribs used plastic hardware to attach the drop side. “Rockland Furniture” and the model number can be found on a rectangular label located on the lower portion of the headboard panel. The following six drop-side crib models are included in this recall:
343-8124 Nightingale Spindle Drop-Side Crib
343-8280 Cottage Standard Drop-Side Crib Version 1
343-8271 Cottage Standard Drop-Side Crib Version 2
343-9105 Drop-Side Crib and Changer
343-8191 Renew Standard Drop-Side Crib
343-8192 Renew Convertible Drop-Side Crib
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and contact Nan Far Woodworking for a free repair kit that will immobilize the drop side. In the meantime, find an alternate, safe sleep environment for the child such as a bassinet, play yard or toddler bed depending on the child’s age. For additional information, contact Nan Far Woodworking at (877) 967-5770 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website www.rocklandimmobilizationkit.com
April 5: Todson Recalls Bicycle Child Carrier Seats Due to Laceration and Fingertip Amputation Hazards
Name of Product: Topeak Babyseat™ II Bicycle Carrier Seats, Imported by Todson Inc., of North Attleboro, Mass.”A child can place his or her fingers in the opening at the grab bar’s hinge mechanism. When the consumer lifts the grab bar to remove the child from the seat, the child’s fingertips can be caught in the hinge mechanism, posing a laceration and fingertip amputation hazard to the child.” This recall involves Topeak Babyseat II bicycle carrier seats with model numbers TCS2100, TCS2101 and TCS2102. Model numbers are printed on the product’s packaging. The gray, plastic Babyseats were sold in three styles: Babyseat, Babyseat with disc brake compatible rack and Babyseat with non-disc brake compatible rack. The racks are used to mount the seat to the bicycle. “Topeak” is embossed on the back of the seat and is also printed on a black foam protector that covers the grab bar. A red locking lever on the side of the blue grab bar locks the bar into place. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled carrier seats and contact Todson to receive a free hinge cover retrofit kit. For additional information, contact Todson at (800) 250-3068 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.todson.com
Important Message from CPSC: CPSC reminds parents not to use any crib with missing, broken or loose parts. Make sure to tighten hardware from time to time to keep the crib sturdy. When using a drop-side crib, parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly. Always check all sides and corners of the crib for parts separating that can create a gap and entrap a child. In addition, do not try to repair any side of the crib. Babies have died in cribs where repairs were attempted by caregivers. Crib age is a factor in safety. At a minimum, CPSC staff recommends that you do not use a crib that is older than 10 years old. Effective June 28, 2011, new, mandatory federal crib rules require that all cribs manufactured and sold after that date must meet new and improved safety requirements (pdf). Older cribs do not meet the new standard and can have a variety of safety problems. Check if your crib has been recalled at www.cpsc.gov
Toys, furniture and other equipment is an expensive investment for a daycare business, However it is an investment that is essential for licensed daycare providers that care for infants. Be aware that if you must buy used cribs and furniture for your daycare center it is imperative that you check against the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall list to be sure the product has not been previously recalled.
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