Youth Beds Sold at Costco Result in Toddler Death

Today the CPSC issued a recall for the Lajolla Boat Bed and Pirates of the Caribbean Twin Trundle Beds as a result of the death of a 22 month old boy. The toddler was strangled when the lid of the toy chest fell on the back of his head and trapped his neck on the edge of the LaJolla Boat Bed.

These beds were sold at Costco stores, Costco.com and furniture retail stores from January 2006 to May 2008. Owners can contact Bayside at 877-494-2536 or http://www.baysidefurnishings.com/ to receive a free repair kit with replacement lid supports.

Another Round of PlayGround Equipment Recalled

15,000 Playsafe Spinning Quad Merry Go Rounds sold at Toys R Us were recalled today due to a fall hazard from a fautly bearing system on the seats. The manufacturer has received one report of an injury from a fall. These merry go rounds were sold at Toys R Us from January to March 2008 for $80 - $100.

Second Round of Playground Equipment Recalled

Today the CPSC recalled 11,000 Adventure Play Sets and Create N Adventure Wooden Play Sets sold at Wal-Mart and Toys R Us since the beginning of this year. Backyard Leisure has received 114 reports of the hangers for the glider swings breaking, including three reports of minor injuries to children. These wooden play sets were made in China.

This comes a month after the CPSC recalled 17,000 play sets sold to day care centers again due to fall hazards. The Playworld Systems Swing Sets which were recalled were made in the United States.

PlayWorld Systems Recalls Swing Sets Sold to Day Cares

Yesterday, the CPSC issued a recall on Playworld swing sets sold to day cares and early childhood learning centers in the past year. The swing set recall was due to a faulty part (clevis bearing) which can detach and cause the swing to fall. Over 17,000 swing sets are part of this recall.

Avon Joins the List of Companies Involved in Child Product Recalls

Today, the CPSC issued two recalls on products for children that Avon sold. The 2006 & 2007 infant Santa outfits sold in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were recalled due to a choking hazard on the pom-poms and snaps. A Flower Table and Basketball Table sold by Avon in the US were also recalled today due to lead paint.

Last month over 100,000 Cozy Warming Polar Bears sold by Avon were recalled due to a fire hazard when heating the warming pouch.

See rotating pictures on this blog for the latest child product recalls.

8 Companies Agree to Settlement on Drawstring Issue in Children's Clothing

According to the CPSC, the companies listed below have agreed to pay $320,000 in total to settle allegations that they knowingly sold defective products. In 1996, the CPSC issued guidelines on the use of drawstrings in children’s hooded shirts and jackets. The drawstrings are believed to present a risk of strangulation to children.

In 2008 alone, there have already been 8 recalls for girls and boys hooded sweatshirts sold at places such as Marshalls and Nordstroms.


Life is Good Inc.
True Religion Apparel Inc.
The Cayre Group Ltd.
DollarDays International, LLC
Kohl's Department Stores Inc.
Seena International Inc.
Neiman Marcus Group Inc
Gildan Activewear SRL

Interesting Recall Timing on Beco Baby Butterfly Infant Carriers

The CPSC issued a recall today (April 22, 2008) for the Beco Baby Butterfly Infant Carriers. This is the second infant carrier recalled this year (the Ellaroo Infant Sling was recalled on 3/11/2008). As I was entering the recall into the SmartToyChoice.com database, I researched the recall at the http://www.becobabycarrier.com/ site and on their blog, Beco Baby announced the recall on March 7, 2008. Over a month passed from the time the manufacturer announced the recall on a blog to when the CPSC issued a national recall.

Apparently the buckles on the carrier shoulder straps can unexpectedly release tension causing the strap to slip through - which means the baby could fall out. Beco Baby has received 8 reports of the strap slipping though the shoulder buckles but no injuries have been reported.

Evenflo Discovery Car Seat Recall

This week the Evenflo Discovery Car Seats were recalled. As we prepare to expand the SmartToyChoice.com service to include other children’s products and car seats, I am reminded of why we created the personalized recall notification service. While entering the past car seat recalls (from 2007 on) most of them state that the manufacturer will notify registered customers of the recall or send them the repair kit.

But will all owners of the car seats BE notified?

One recall for the Viva car seat by miaModa was recalled because the car seats were sold without a registration card – so did the owners of these car seats still register them?

Or what about my scenario – I bought a Peg Perego infant car seat in 2002, just before my daughter was born and I promptly mailed in my registration. In 2004, we moved. In 2005, I used the car seat again for my son when he was born. Then in 2006, just before we moved again, I gave the car seat to my friend who was pregnant. Before her daughter was born she took the car seat to the fire station to have them help install it. They asked her if she had installed the repair kit from the recall. She called me to ask if I had – I had NO idea the car seat had ever been recalled. Did my registration get lost in the mail? Did I not receive the recall notification because the time expired on the mail forwarding?

SmartToyChoice.com allows you to see exactly what you have registered. If you move, you can easily update your address for all of your SmartToyChoice.com registered products. If your email address changes but you do not update your SmartToyChoice.com account, we will be notified when we send the quarterly email and will follow up with a post card to your home address in your account (before the time limit expires on the mail forwarding!)