Recent Baby Product Recalls Include Maclaren Strollers
If you can remember about 18 months ago, prominent stroller manufacturer Maclaren recalled about 1 million strollers in November 2009. Although the stroller brand has since developed a safer model, a recall of past brands occurred a month ago.
Although baby product recalls appear to have dropped since drop side cribs were banned, some items still pose hazards. In particular are Maclaren strollers and Falls Creek slipper socks for infants. The latter of these two – bug-shaped baby socks – has balls at the ends, which can detach and pose choking hazards. Maclaren strollers, on the other hand, are being recalled for the same reason they were in 2009: a hinge mechanism that poses finger amputation or laceration hazards to a child when the stroller is opened.
The recalled amount is still the same – 1 million strollers – and since November 2009, 37 additional safety incidents have occurred. The products being recalled are all single and double umbrella strollers sold between 1999 and November 2009. Maclaren strollers sold after May 2010 have a different hinge design and are not part of this recall.
Just as in 2009, parents with these recalled Maclaren strollers can purchase a repair kit for the hinge cover and should contact the manufacturer by email or by telephone.
If you are a parent with such a stroller by Maclaren, what is the best course of action in this case? As with all recalls, first stop using the product. Even though your child has not been injured, he or she could be if you continue to use the stroller. Second, seek out a repair kit or look for a new stroller. Although the hinge kit is design to make this model safer, the recalled product is an umbrella stroller, which is somewhat more affordable to replace than a standard or jogger design. Additionally, a new stroller, one that has not been recalled, is safer for your child. To avoid purchasing another recalled stroller, check on Recalls.gov.
The Dangers of Fire Retardant Chemicals in Baby Products
Filed under: Baby Clothes, Baby Gear, Baby Health, Baby Safety, Baby Sleeping
The hazards of exposing babies to fire retardant chemicals are not new news. Manufacturers of green baby products have been touting this for years, and even in the ‘70s, a toxic fire retardant chemical found to cause cancer in animals was removed from baby pajamas. Nevertheless, even though the dangers of having such chemicals near your baby, in toys, in mattresses, and even in household dust, many baby products still contain fire retardant chemicals.
According to a recent article published in USA Today, toddlers and preschoolers have levels of fire retardant chemicals three times higher than those in adults. While adults are not immune to the effects of such chemicals, babies and young children are particularly affected by exposure: Brain development or behavior may be altered, or a child many have a lower IQ or learning problems, among other issues.
At the same time, most items are made with fire retardant chemicals, primarily as the result of California’s strict standards. An article published in the Los Angeles Times in 2009 questions the effectiveness and necessity of these chemicals. Added to save lives and reduce exposure to fire, constant exposure to these chemicals is dangerous, and during a fire, the chemicals are released into the air.
Although California is loosening its standards for baby products, most items for children still include fire retardant chemicals: 56 percent of infant carriers, 44 percent of car seats, and 40 percent of portable cribs. Parents, as a result, also have a difficult time finding baby products free of fire retardant chemicals, but knowing which brands to look for makes a search easier.
As infants sleep 70 percent of their first year, finding a mattress free of fire retardant chemicals and phthalates is a significant concern for parents. Naturepedic is one of the prominent brands of such chemical-free products. Using no vinyl, PVC, or polyurethane foam, Naturepedic baby mattresses are tested for chemical emissions and are Greenguard certified. Each mattress has a waterproof surface made out of 100-percent food grade polypropylene, organic cotton filing, and a non-toxic and naturally-derived fire barrier system.