While cribs, bassinets and play yards are the safest places to place your baby to sleep, nearly 9 million cribs and numerous bassinets and play yards have been recalled since 2007.

2.5 Million Step2 Toy Buggies Recalled

A problem with handles has led Step2 Co. to recall 2.5 million ride-on toys that pose a "serious risk of injury to young children," the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday.

Two children needed "professional medical treatment" after the handle detached from the car-like buggies, and 26 children got scraped and scratched in other incidents, the agency said in a statement, Bloomberg reported.

A pin with a yellow head on Step2's "Push Around and Whisper Ride" buggies can come loose, enabling the buggy to roll way, the agency said.

The recall applies to buggies sold from August 1999 through March 2010 for $29 to $59, the CPSC said.

Consumers are advised to stop using the buggies and contact Step2 for a free repair kit, by calling 1-866-860-1887 or visiting the company's website, www.step2.com, the agency said.

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx.

Children's and Infants' OTC Tylenol and Motrin, and Children's Zyrtec and Bendryl are being immediately recalled by Johnson & Johnson's McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit.

The products in question are all liquid versions Tylenol, Motril, Zyrtec and Benadryl. The complete list of affected products is below.

"As a precautionary measure, parents and caregivers should not administer these products to their children," reads a McNeil Consumer Healthcare release issued April 30.

The recall is voluntary, and not because the company has seen any "adverse medical events." Rather, the issue seems to be one of quality control. The company says that some of the products could have higher concentrations of active ingredients than specified on the packaging, contain inactive ingredients that don't meet quality control standards, or may contain tiny particles.

For additional information consumers can visit www.mcneilproductrecall.com or call 1-888-222-6036 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time, and Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time).

About 217,000 Graco cribs have been recalled, due to a malfunction that can entrap, suffocate or strangle infants and toddlers, federal safety officials announced Thursday.

The recall includes so-called "drop side" wood cribs made by manufacturer LaJobi and branded with the Graco logo.

Faulty hardware can cause the drop side to detach from the crib, creating a gap "in which infants and toddlers can become wedged or entrapped, posing a risk of suffocation and strangulation," the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a press release.

Consumers should immediately stop using the cribs and contact LaJobi's recall hotline at (888) 842-2215 to receive a free hardware retrofit kit, the company said.

"We have moved swiftly and decisively, in full cooperation with the CPSC, to take this precautionary action and recall these cribs and deliver to owners a workable, easy and permanent solution," LaJobi said in a statement.

The CPSC and LaJobi received 99 complaints about the faulty drop side. Children were trapped in two cases and later freed by their caregivers. There were six reports of children falling out of the crib due to the malfunction.

While LaJobi, as the manufacturer, is primarily handling the recall, it marks the third major recall tied to the Graco name this year. Atlanta-based Graco Children's Products, a unit of Newell Rubbermaid Inc., recalled 1.5 million strollers in January and 1.2 million highchairs in March.

The cribs were sold, starting in February 2007 at retailers throughout the country for $140 to $200.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on Thursday announced a recall of all Simplicity full-size cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames because the mattress can collapse and pose entrapment, suffocation, strangulation, and fall hazards to infants and toddlers, according to an April 29 CPSC press release. The recall includes both fixed-side and drop-side cribs. The CPSC has received a report of one infant death associated with these cribs.

"CPSC has received a report of a one-year-old child from North Attleboro, Mass. who suffocated when he became entrapped between the crib mattress and the crib frame in April 2008," according to the CPSC press release. "CPSC is aware of 13 additional incidents involving the recalled cribs collapsing due to the metal mattress- support frame bending or detaching, including one child entrapment that did not result in injury, and one child who suffered minor cuts to his head when his mattress collapsed and he fell out of the crib."

CPSC said crib owners should not attempt to fix these cribs. Immediately stop using the cribs and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for children.

Simplicity and its successor, SFCA Inc., are out of business, so the CPSC has limited information about the model numbers associated with this recall. Below is a list of the known model numbers involved in this recall, but crib owners should be aware that ALL Simplicity full-size cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames:

More than 1 million baby slings made by Infantino were recalled Wednesday after claims linking them to three infant deaths.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said babies could suffocate in the soft fabric slings. The agency urged parents to immediately stop using the slings for babies under 4 months.

The recall involves 1 million Infantino "SlingRider" and "Wendy Bellissimo" slings in the United States and 15,000 in Canada.

Infantino President Jack Vresics said the company has been working closely with the commission on its sling concerns.

"Our top priority is the safety of infants whose parents and caregivers use our products," Vresics said in a statement. He said the company would offer a free replacement baby carrier, activity gym or shopping cart cover to any affected consumer.

The slings wrap around the chest so on-the-go parents can carry their babies or just stay close as they bond with their infants.

Earlier this month, CPSC issued a broad warning about sling-style baby carriers, saying they pose a potential suffocation risk to infants, especially babies under 4 months. Babies who had a low birth weight, were born prematurely or had breathing problems such as colds were also at risk.

At the time, the commission did not single out a specific type of sling or manufacturer. It said it had identified or was investigating at least 14 deaths in the last 20 years associated with baby slings.

The Graco high chair recall is the second major recall for the company in three months.

In September it was strollers, then strollers again in January. Now, in the third major child-safety recall in six months, consumers are being asked to stop using 1.2 million high chairs.

The Harmony High Chair, made by Graco Children's Products Inc., based in Atlanta, is not safe to use, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced Thursday.

The company is the maker of a stroller recalled in January. With 1.5 million units affected, that recall was the largest ever issued in the US.

On its company blog, Graco said the Harmony chair is the only high chair affected by the recall and that the company has “taken significant steps to assess and enhance our internal product design review processes and we are continually committed to developing safe products.”

US consumer watchdog orders a recall on half a million Generation 2 cribs.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission on Tuesday announced the recall of about 635,000 cribs after the death of a 6-month-old child and dozens of reports of safety problems.

The cribs, distributed by Barbados-based Dorel Asia, feature hardware that can fail, causing the drop-side to detach from the crib. When the drop-side detaches, it creates a space in which an infant or toddler can become trapped and suffocate or strangle, the agency said.

In addition, the cribs can pose an entrapment and strangulation hazard when a slat is damaged. This can occur when the crib is in use or in storage, when it is being put together, taken apart or reassembled, or during shipping and handling.

The safety commission said a 6-month-old from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, became trapped and died in one of the cribs after the drop-side hardware broke. The agency and Dorel Asia received 31 reports of drop-side incidents and 36 of slat breakage; a total of 10 injuries were reported.

In a separate statement, Dorel Asia said it had learned from a safety investigator that the 6-month-old's crib had been previously broken and that the parents had used duct tape to hold it together.

Wednesday's Graco stroller recall of 1.5 million units is the largest in US history. Here's how to find if you have a problem stroller.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a Graco stroller recall Wednesday that will total 1.5 million strollers. The recall concerns uncovered hinges on the canopy of the Graco Passage, Alano, and Spree strollers, which have caused seven severe injuries to toddler's fingers, according to the CPSC.

The strollers in question were sold between October 2004 and February 2008 at several dozen retailers including Target, Wal-Mart, Babies “R” Us, Toys “R” Us, Kmart, and Sears. The strollers cost between $80 and $200.

If you bought a Graco stroller during that period, check the stroller's model number against the chart at the bottom of this page or check out the CPSC's news release. (You can find the stroller's model number and manufacture date on the lower inside portion of the rear frame, just above the rear wheels.)

If you have one of the problem strollers, stop using it immediately, the CPSC warns, and order a repair kit from Graco. You can find those order forms here. or by calling 800-345-4109. (Be forewarned: The Graco website was operating extremely slowly at 10 a.m. EST, probably due to the increased traffic the recall is generating.)

The company has set up a FAQ post regarding the recall on it's blog. Graco is also responding to stroller owners via Twitter.

Customers outside the United States are also eligible for the recall, according to Graco.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada today announced a recall of almost 80,000 Evenflo ExerSaucer 1-2-3 Tea for Me Activity Learning Centers.

The CPSC says, "the candle flame attached to the top of the cake toy can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children... Evenflo has received 11 reports of the toy flames detaching. Five of the incidents occurred in the United States and six in Canada. No injuries have been reported."

Here's the details about the product recall from the CPSC:

• This recall involves Evenflo ExerSaucer® 1-2-3 Tea for Me activity learning centers. The tea party themed toys have a two–tier cake that is light blue, dark pink and yellow.
   
• Models included in the recall are 6161834 and 6161920. The model numbers are printed on the packaging and on a label located on the underside of the base of the product.
   
• The recommended age for use of this product is 4 months to walking.
   

Two babies - 4 months old and 5 month old- died this summer while sleeping in their Amby Baby Motion Beds/Hammocks, prompting a recall today by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (Read a PDF of the official recall notice by Clicking Here.)

The CPSC says consumers should stop using the recalled bassinet immediately. About 24,000 of the Amby Baby Motion Beds are a part of the recall. The CPSC says, "The side-to-side shifting or tilting of the hammock can cause the infant to roll and become entrapped or wedged against the hammock’s fabric and/or mattress pad, resulting in a suffocation hazard... Amby Baby is aware of two infant suffocation deaths in the Amby Baby hammock. In June 2009, a 4-month-old girl in Lawrenceville, Georgia died in a baby hammock and in August 2009, a 5-month-old boy from Gresham, Oregon."

Details of the recall from the CPSC:

• The Amby Baby Motion Bed consists of a steel frame and a fabric hammock which are connected by a large spring and metal crossbar. There is only one model of the hammock available which can be identified by a label sewn onto the hammock stating: “Amby – Babies Love It, Naturally.”
  
  
• Sold online at: Ambybaby.com and other Internet retailers from January 2003 through October 2009 for about $250.
  
  

Advocates say shoppers need to know risks

A consumer advocacy group is hoping holiday shoppers will cross several toys off their gift lists this year.

The U. S. Public Interest Research Group rounded up more than 30 toys it said pose choking and strangulation hazards, violate labeling regulations and exceed acceptable noise and toxin levels.

The findings are published in its annual “Trouble in Toyland” (PDF) report. Additional information was published by HealthyStuff.org.

Among the toys deemed dangerous are the MLB Soft Sport glove, bat and ball set; a Disney High School Musical argyle belt and Learning Curve’s Gordon from the Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway. They were found to exceed legal levels of lead, chlorine, cadmium, arsenic, mercury or bromine. Those toxins have been linked to hampered development, birth defects and cancer.

Pucci Pups, stuffed dogs in play pet carriers, come with long leashes that could strangle a child, the report said. The box lacks an explicit strangulation warning, and manufacturer Battat recommends it for children ages 2 and up. Similarly, a Disney Toy Story Buddy Pack contains small pieces on which kids can easily choke, the consumer group said.

These potential hazards were found despite tightened regulations put in place by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act last year. Toys are required by law to meet strict safety standards, but testing is not required to be sure those standards are met, the group said.

Largest Such Recall in U.S. History Includes 147,000 Drop-Side Cribs

CPSC: Information on Models, Where Sold And When (PDF)
Visit Stork Craft Web Site for more information or call the company toll-free at (877) 274-0277

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the largest crib recall in United States history, involving cribs with dropdown sides, fearing they may be unsafe, even deadly.

The 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.

In a press statement, the CPSC urged 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.

As "Early Show" Consumer Correspondent Susan Koeppen reports, the products are being blamed for serious injuries and even four deaths.

Michele Witte thought her 10-month old son Tyler was safely tucked into his crib. But when she went to check in on him…

"I just fell to my knees and I started screaming," Witte recalled.

Stroller maker says its umbrella strollers have resulted in the amputation of 12 children's fingertips.

+ Click to enlarge.

Stroller maker Maclaren announced a recall on Monday that affects about 1 million umbrella strollers that can reportedly amputate or lacerate children's fingertips.

So far, the company said there have been 12 amputations across the country. This happens when children get their fingers stuck in between the stroller's side hinges while it is being opened or closed.

The South Norwalk, Conn.-based company announced the voluntary recall in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and advises customers to stop using the products manufactured in China sold since 1999 at stores including Babies R Us and Target.

Consumers can contact Maclaren at 877-688-2326 or visit http://recall.maclaren.us/ to receive a free repair kit.

Plum Organics of Emeryville, Calif., is recalling some of its apple and carrot portable pouch baby food because of concerns over possible botulism contamination.

The product was sold individually throughout the country at Toys-R-Us and Babies-R-Us stores. The recalled product is sold in 4.22-ounce pouches, with a "best by" date of May 21, 2010, and UPC 890180001221.

"The product did not meet the FDA guidelines for proper acidity level," Paul Gerhardt, a member of the Plum Organics action team, said in a statement.

The company is concerned that the baby food may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism, a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition. Consumers should not use these products, even if they appear to be normal, because of the possible health risk.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with the baby food, and no other Plum Organics products are affected, the company s aid in a statement.

More information is available by calling 888-974-3555 or by e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

How do I identify which products are affected?

Only the Apple & Carrot Baby Food in Portable Pouches with the best by date of May 21, 2010 are voluntarily recalled as a precautionary measure. The UPC code for this product is: 890180001221

No other products are affected.

The Best By code is typed in black on the back of the package, on the bottom edge. It reads as MAY2110

Children's and infant's liquid medicines will be pulled from warehouses and stores as a precaution against possible contamination.

The makers of Tylenol are recalling 21 children's and infant's Tylenol liquid products manufactured between April 2008 and June 2008 from warehouses and retail stores as a safeguard against potential contamination.

In a written statement, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Tylenol's manufacturer, said it detected bacteria in an inactive ingredient. While that ingredient was not used in any packaged final products, it was produced at the same time as those products.

In consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, McNeil, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson, decided to "recall all product that utilized any of the raw material manufactured at the same time as the raw material that tested positive for the bacteria" as a precaution, adding that "the likelihood of a serious medical event is remote."

According to McNeil's statement, scientific literature about the bacteria suggests that ingesting a contaminated pharmaceutical product orally doesn't trigger an infection, but use of products such as a nasal spray with the bacteria has lead to infections.

"Our stomachs have a lot of enzymes that help destroy the bacteria," said Daryl DePestel, a professor at Univesity of Michgan's College of Pharmacy, adding that most foods have bacteria but are killed inside the body. "Using a nasal spray, you could inhale the bacteria into the lungs, bypassing the body's safety mechanisms."

Though the infection could be severe for patients with lung disease, cystic fibrosis or weak immune systems, DePestel said "the risk is pretty low."

"Generally, this particular organism is considered to have a low pathogenicity," he said. "It's not much of a concern."

McNeil advises concerned parents to contact their health provider.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the companies below have announced voluntary recalls of three children’s products: SmartLight Stair Gates, Jump n' Jive doorway jumpers and Circo Booster Seats.

• Dorel Juvenile Group USA of Columbus, Ind., is recalling about 31,500 Safety 1st SmartLight Stair Gates.

The gates are white metal with gray handles and have a motion sensor light that illuminates on approach. The hinges holding the gate in place can break and pose a falling hazard to children if the gate is placed at the top of the stairs.

The model number is 42111 and is printed on a sticker under the handle panel. The product was sold at mass retailers, including: Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart.com and other online retailers. It was sold for about $60 from January 2005 through July 2009.

Consumers should not return the gates to retailers. Consumers can call Dorel Juvenile Group at (866) 690-2540 Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. PDT. Or complete an online order form on the Dorel Juvenile Group website to obtain a free repair kit; e-mail the company at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or send a fax to (800) 207-8182.

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About 22,500 Bugaboo Bee strollers are being recalled after at least 121 reports were received of the brakes on the baby stroller failing, which could cause the stroller to unexpectedly roll away and potentially injury the infant.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Bugaboo North America, Inc. announced the baby stroller recall on June 2, 2009, indicating that although no injuries have been reported in association with the defect, consumers should stop using them immediately.

One or both sides of the Bugaboo Bee baby stroller brakes can fail, posing a potential risk of injury to a child if the stroller is on an incline. Given the relatively small number of strollers involved in the recall, the large number of reported brake failures is concerning for consumers, as reported problems usually only account for a small fraction of the actual failures caused by a defective product.

The Bugaboo Bee Strollers were sold on various web sites and at retail stores throughout the United States from August 2007 through April 2009. The high-end strollers retailed for about $530.

The potentially defective strollers have “bugaboo bee” printed on the left side of the seat. An item code of 580210 is printed on a label on the back of the seat, and there is an item code of 50100 on a label under the seat on the plastic support. The strollers came in a variety of colors, including blue, yellow, black, pink, red and dark khaki.

The Bugaboo Bee strollers are manufactured by Bugaboo Design & Sales, B.V., of the Netherlands and were made in Taiwan.

The CPSC has urged all consumers to stop using the strollers immediately and to contact Bugaboo for a free repair kit. A request for new brackets that secure the functioning of the brakes and also be requested by completing an online form at the manufacturer’s website.

Drop-side beds made by Delta Enterprises between 1995 and 2007

Delta Enterprises is voluntarily recalling nearly 1.6 million older versions of its drop-side cribs after two infant deaths. The cribs were made between 1995 and 2007, according to the company.

The cribs either required safety pegs that may have been lost during reassembly or replacements for pegs which may have worn out after many uses, the company said.

Delta’s Web site urged consumers to immediately stop using the product if they used spring pegs and were made in China before 2006. Consumers were urged to stop using the cribs immediately if the safety pegs were missing.

Both infants suffocated in their cribs. In one instance, there was no safety peg and when the crib’s side detached, it left a gap the infant got stuck in. In the second instance, the infant died in a similar fashion when a spring-peg failed to lock and the side detached.

The recall doesn’t affect any cribs in retail inventory now.