meta-dad

Additional recalls for Simplicity and Infantino baby products

This is not the first time a Simplicity product has been recalled. Back in August ’08, their 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible “Close Sleepers” were recalled after a five month old Kansas girl was strangled to death by the space between the metal bar and the bed. In 2007, another four month old died after being entrapped in the metal bars of the bassinet.

Evidently, Simplicity went out of business and various companies bought up their inventory. In the current round of recalls, the Rainforest™ Portable Play Yards with the Fisher-Price logo on it (model numbers are 5310 RNF, 5310RNFC, and 5310RNFW) has one or more faulty rails which can collapse unexpectedly, posing a fall or entrapment hazard to young children.

Also, Infantino has expanded its original recall for their Infantino Lion and Lamb Grabby Rattles™ after receiving close to a dozen reports of the rattles tail falling off, thus posing a choking hazard to infants and young children. This recall represents around 131,000 rattles.

Although it did not manufacture or sell the play yards, Fisher-Price has voluntarily agreed to assist any consumers who own any of the 200k play yards in this recall. Regardless, it is most important for all consumers to share this safety warning with day care centers, consignment stores, family and friends to ensure that no child is placed to sleep in a Simplicity play yards covered by this recall.

Sited and Related Links:
CPSC | Fisher-Price Recalls Simplicity’s Rainforest™ Portable Play Yards …
Meta-DAD | Simplicity Bassinets Potential Deathtrap for Infants
CPSC | Infantino Expands Recall of Infant Rattles Due to Choking Hazard
Consumer Reports | Third major recall of Simplicity includes 600,000 cribs

Tags: 0-1 year, health alert, kids health, recall

Lethal Snow Globes, Faulty Ski Bindings and Other Holiday Recalls

Now that the gift wrap has been thrown away and hopefully those sugar “highs” have passed, you think you have a moment to kick back on the couch and watch the kids fight over play with their new toys – wrong. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a six pack of recalls on items that may have sitting under your tree or in your kid’s room, so please read on.

Regarding Christmas decorations, there are two recalls – one with an obvious design flaw and the other one maybe not so obvious. We should all know this from 9th grade Science class, if you have a big enough snow globe in the sun for too long it will magnify the sun’s rays and potentially ignite a fire. Hallmark’s Jumbo Snowman Snow Globe (Stock #1XAG5093, measuring 11 by 12 by 17 inches) for a suggested retail price of $99.95, has been recalled due to a potential risk of fire.

Gardner’s Supply Company has voluntarily recalled their Candle Powered Christmas Pyramid (*pictured above). The candle carousels generate heat which rotate the fan blade and can cause the center platform to spin. The candle holder placement on the base of the carousels is too close to the structure, allowing the candle flame to come in contact and ignite different parts of the carousel, including the fans, trees and deer, posing a fire hazard.

Munire Furniture Company is in trouble again this year, they had a sizable recall a few months ago for there Majestic, Flat Top, Essex, Brighton/Sussex, and Captiva Cribs. Now it is there 4-in-1 Newport Rubbed Black Convertible Crib and matching furniture. The red paint beneath the black rubbed paint has been found to have excessive amounts of lead in it. There has been one report of a child ingesting the paint and being diagnosed with lead poisoning. The combined number of units involved in the two sets of Munire recalls is 34,000 so if you have anything with the Munire name on it in you nursery or kid’s room, please read this twice.

In the sports arena there are two additional recalls. Foursquare Outerwear, of Irvine, CA, made a classic fashion faux pas by More »

Tags: classic toys, furnishing, health alert, holidays, kids health, kids room, recall, toys

CPSC Offers Recalls and Heeds Warnings for Halloween

At a glance Halloween seems to be a fairly safe and straight forward family affair. Dress the kids up. Let them get a bag or two of candy. Take some snapshots for the family album. Clean up (especially that rotten jack o’lantern on your front step) and move on to Thanksgiving, right?

Well according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission there are some safety tips to follow this Trick or Treat Season. I will offer the unabridged version of their tips as they seem to (rightly) focus on a few obvious hazards.

Decorations Safety;

• Whenever possible do not use candles and when you do keep them away from kids, general foot-traffic and their costumes.
• When prepping your house for Trick-or-Treaters, clean the pathway leading up to your front door of all obstacles and make sure it is well lit.
• Don’t overload extension cords and only use healthy UL tested products

Costumes Safety;

• If wearing a mask, make sure they can breath well enough and make sure they can see (including peripheral vision)
• If they are going to be out on the streets Trick or Treating make sure they carry a flashlight and have reflective or light colored fabric or material on their outfit.
• Choose costume that are “flame resistant” which means they will be less likely to catch on fire.
• Weapons (swords, knives, et al.) should be soft and bendable or collapsible in nature.
• Make sure costume is weather appropriate, which may mean additional layers under outfit.

Treats;

• Make sure parent/guardian(s) check all candy, toys or treats (especially for young ones) for tampering or choke hazard

Like most holidays, a few products are being recalled for safety reasons. Crate & Barrel out of Northbrook, IL has recalled thirty thousand Halloween Ghost Tealight Burners for burn and fire hazards. There have been five reports of the tealight holders igniting and one report of the holder becoming excessively hot. Two consumers suffered burns to the hand. Just by looking at this product (above), I can tell you without doubt that many more people have been burned by this product – not necessarily bad ones but burns nonetheless.

Coyne’s & Company, out of Minneapolis MN, is recalling all fourteen thousand of their Casper the Friendly Ghost figurines due to excessive amounts of lead. These figurine stand approximately three inches tall and are made from resin and paper. Please check the original press release for model numbers and additional details as there are many different figurine designs included in this recall.

Sited Links;
Tag Home Decor | Ghost Tealight Recall Information
Halloween Figurines Recalled by Coyne’s & Company for Lead Hazard
Ghost Tealight Holders Recalled by Trade Associates Group and Crate & Barrel…
CPSC 2008 Halloween Safety Tips

Tags: costumes, halloween, kids health, recall, safety

Delta Recalls Prompt Crib Warning to Parents

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has urged parents and caregivers to closely inspect the hardware and stability of their cribs to ensure all parts are in place and secure. This press release is on the heels of two seperate recalls for Delta Cribs (Delta Enterprise, Inc.) today due to an infant death.

These two recalls involve a number of models and represent a total of 1.5 million cribs that were sold between 1995-2007. This is a sizable recall, to say the least. The CPSC believes the performance requirements can be strengthened to deal with the problems identified by their Early Warning System so they are scheduling to vote to issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed (ANPR) rulemaking to examine and assess potential design and durability issues and possible mandatory performance requirements to prevent future entrapments and strangulations to children. Essentially, they are going to make efforts to evaluate cribs before they hit the market so more infant deaths do not occur due to faulty design or manufacturing practices.

As issued by the CPSC, here are safety tips for reviewing you child’s crib;

• Parents should not use any crib with missing, broken or loose parts.
• Hardware should be inspected from time to time and tightened 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 on its track.
• Always check all sides and corners of the crib for disengagement. Any disengagement can create a gap and entrap a child.
• Do not try to repair any side of the crib without manufacturer approved hardware or with tape, wire or rope.
• Putting a broken side up against the wall does not solve the problem and can often make it worse.
• Do 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 disengagement. Any disengagement can create a gap and entrap a child.
• Do not try to repair any side of the crib, especially with tape, wire or rope.

Parents and Caregivers are advised to immediately stop using the Delta cribs that are missing a safety peg (described in the recall press release) on any leg of the crib and contact Delta to receive a free, easy-to-install repair kit.

The kit will include safety pegs in a bold color and warning labels to be affixed to the mattress board. Consumers with cribs that have all safety pegs installed may continue to use the cribs; however, it is recommended that these consumers contact Delta for the repair kit for future assembly purposes.

If you do not have a Delta crib, but have a drop side crib of another brand it may be prudent to check it for any compromises. Also, please spread the word of this recall and share it with you neighbors, daycare, and family members.

Call Delta toll-free at (1-800-816-5304) anytime after 5pm today or log on CribRecallCenter.Com to order the free replacement kit.

Sited Links;
CPSC Press Release | Infant Death Prompts Recall To Repair 600,000 Drop Side Cribs…
CPSC Press Release | Defects Identified by CPSC Early Warning System Prompt…
CPSC Press Release | Infant Death Prompts Recall to Repair 985,000 Delta
Delta Childrens Products | Crib Recall Center

Tags: 0-1 year, baby health, health alert, recall

Pacifiers, Puzzles and Stroller Toys Recalled

Habamaass (HabaUSA) wooden rattles, pacifier holders, and stroller toys contain small pieces including glued on mirrors and/or prisms that can detach, of course posing a choking hazard to infants. The head of the ladybug puzzle pieces also poses a choking hazard. Habamaass, the German-based company, have voluntarily recalled a number of products.

The puzzles, rattle toys, pacifier holders, and stroller toys are wooden and are described in the chart below. “HABA” is printed on them. Specialty toy stores nationwide and at specialty online retailers from January 2002 through August 2008.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) Press release sites over 115k products included in the recall. In lieu of recent reports by the USCPSC how recall notices have been failing to reach the consumer in a timely manner; I think it is fair to say we (the parents and loved ones) should spread the word to get these products out of the mouths and hands of infants. Please check the USCPSC Press Release below, there are a number of different child and infant products listed and illustrated.

For additional information, contact Habermaass Corp. at (800) 468-6873 ext. 107 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site.

Sited Links:
USCPSC | Habermaass Product Recall

Tags: baby health, health alert, recall

Simplicity Bassinets Potential Deathtrap for Infants

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recently issued a warning about Simiplicity brand 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible “Close Sleepers” after a five month old Kansas girl was strangled to death by the space between the metal bar and the bed. In 2007, another four month old died after being entrapped in the metal bars of the bassinet.

The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets contain metal bars spaced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, which is the maximum distance allowed under the federal crib safety standard. The metal bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the velcro is not properly re-secured when the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrapped in the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar.” ~ CPSC Press Release

What compounds matters is that the company that now owns all Simplicity products, SFCA Inc., (an affiliate of Bethesda, MD based Blackstreet Capital Partners, LLC) refuses to take action. Evidently, SFCA purchased all Simplicity products in public auction back in April of 2008.

This lack of cooperations by the responsible party leaves the consumer with no replacement bassinet and pockets turned outward as there is no refund to be had. It’s time for the folks at SFCA to step up to the plate and be responsible for the products they are profiting from.

Regardless, it is most important for all consumers to share this safety warning with day care centers, consignment stores, family and friends to ensure that no child is placed to sleep in a Simplicity convertible bassinet covered by this warning.

Sited Links:
USCPSC | Infants Strangled to Death in Simplicity Bassinets…
Reuters | SFCA, Inc. Acquires Assets of Simplicity, Inc.

Tags: baby health, health alert, recall