Graco Strollers Recalled; More Drop-Side Cribs Pulled From Shelves
This past week, various baby products from major manufacturers were taken out of stores. The most significant is Graco strollers: Two million strollers were recalled after four infant deaths that occurred between 2003 and 2005. According to records from the CPSC, children became trapped inside the strollers and were strangled in models manufactured before 2008. If a child was not strapped in correctly with these older designs, he or she could slide between the tray and bottom of the seat, get stuck, and could then be cut, experience breathing problems, or get strangled. Graco’s Quattro Tour and MetroLite stroller and travel system models from 2007 and back are being recalled; all Graco products manufactured from 2008 to the present are safe to use.
More drop-side cribs were also recalled recently. Designs by Ethan Allen, Angel Line, and Victory Land were taken off shelves, as they caused children to get stuck, although no deaths occurred. By the end of the year, however, such products would inevitably be removed from stores, anyway, as a ban on drop side cribs had been issued by the government late in spring.
As we’ve gone over before, the best procedure when a product is recalled is to stop use of it immediately. For strollers, this may mean waiting for a repair kit to fix the issue – although, it appears, none are available for these Graco models – or purchasing another model. In the case of Graco, purchasing another model is recommended.
Drop-side cribs are another issue. As the product will be taken off shelves by the end of 2010, no one should continue using this design after that point: stores will no longer carry the product and the product is banned from use or sale in other locations, such as secondhand stores, hotels, and daycare centers.
Large Fisher-Price Baby Toys Recall
As you might have heard over the past few weeks, prominent toy manufacturer Fisher-Price has recalled millions of baby and toddler toys. Although, according to an article from The Week, no deaths have occurred, the millions of toys do pose serious risks to children and babies, including sharp and protruding edges and parts that fall off and become choking hazards.
As the article above details, 11 million Fisher-Price toys geared toward babies and young children were voluntarily recalled by the brand and its parent company, Mattel. More specifically, as the article mentions, the recall consisted of 7 million tricycles, 1 million high chairs, 2.9 million baby toys, and 120,000 toy cars, spanning over nearly 50 products.
Deaths and injuries are two serious concerns when products are recalled, and, as the Week story mentions, only injuries were reported in this instance. Protruding parts, in particular, seemed to be a significant risk, as they often caused discomfort and bleeding. The injuries were serious enough that medical attention was needed.
Like with most recalls, Fisher-Price recommends that parents stop using these toys immediately. Although refunds aren’t being offered by the manufacturer (this may be a different case with the retailer, however), Fisher-Price has stated that they offer repair kits and replacements but not refunds.
Although the scope of this recall is one of the largest seen this past year, the multiple drop side crib recalls nearly approach that level. In any case, parents are advised to find out all products being recalled – the list of all products is here — and examine all of their baby’s and children’s toys and other products. For the time being, purchasing other products or obtaining a repair kit is recommended for your baby’s or child’s safety.
Planning a Baby Shower: Diaper Cakes, Gift-Less Parties
Have you ever been in charge of planning a baby shower? Have you ever been a guest at one? As you might be aware, a baby shower is typically an event in which new parents receive several items for their new baby. But what if a parent already has more than enough? This can be the case when parents are expecting their second child and everything from the first is still in good condition.
According to an article in Parent Dish, diaper cakes are the latest trend for baby showers. Stylish, decorative, and practical, they’re everything you would want out of a baby shower gifts. A typical diaper cake has between 50 to 150 diapers – a starting supply for new parents – and various other baby items, such as blankets and clothing, attached to the tiers.
If the baby shower for the new parents is more about the gathering than the gifts, consider some of these suggestions by the Green Bay Press Gazette. Some of their suggestions for a baby shower focus on the event of having a new baby, as opposed to simply getting baby gifts. Holding a luncheon is one of their recommendations, while more baby-specific parties range from an advice to a book shower.
Other baby shower ideas focus on the fact that not everyone can afford a baby shower gift. Instead, as an option, a hand-me-down party is an opportunity for new parents to receive several slightly worn items. Hand-me-down or secondhand baby products, however, should be treated with caution, as they might have been recalled or are too worn to be practical.
For other options for a baby shower, the Press Gazette article mentions holding a “birth day” party, which is essentially a birth announcement and shower hybrid. Gifts can be given – such parties should be gifts-optional – and friends and family can see the new baby.
Does Competition Start In Infancy?
You bought the black, red, and white baby toys. You put the plastic-framed mirror in the crib. You read to your child every day and even play Beethoven. So, when is your child going to start walking, talking, and performing quadratic equations?
Perhaps expecting too much from your baby too soon will cause an early burnout. But with helicopter parents annoying colleges at orientation and new parents discussing each milestone their child gets to, it appears that competition and an endless strive for success starts even before the child is born. One writer published a piece in The Express Tribune about this phenomena regarding competition between parents that, really, becomes a burden on the child.
The author discusses parents talking about milestones, measuring one child’s achievements against another’s. This extends not only to walking and talking but purchasing the latest baby toys to meet these milestones. Parents, however, aren’t exempt from the competition, as the ability of a child to meet these expectations also encompasses a parent’s ability and motivation. From attending mother and baby classes to a mother getting her body back to shape after pregnancy, nothing is off limits.
This author questions the approach and, instead, proposes parents to back off and stop competing with each other. As an alternative, parents should let their children reach milestones at their own pace.
That’s not to say that parenting needs to become neglectful of a child’s development. Although parental competition may go too far, realizing a child needs to learn certain skills over time is also necessary. In this case, having a few black, red, and white toys and reading to your child won’t hurt. Going overboard in both of these aspects, however, may cause a child to feel overly stimulated and, as a result, won’t absorb as much information as he or she can.