FDA Warns Against SIDS-Preventing Baby Products
No parent wants to find a child dead from SIDS, yet products that make claims to prevent the condition are not safe, according to a recent statement issued by the FDA. In general, the government agency tells parents to avoid commercial devices marketed to reduce risks for SIDS.
Most parents have likely come across such products. Regardless of brands, however, typical SIDS-preventing baby products come as wedges, sleep positioners, mattresses, sleep surfaces, bedding, pillows, or tents. Such products, in concept, position a baby to prevent rolling over and suffocating during sleep. Yet, the baby itself can slip out of such products, which may in fact end up suffocating the child. The FDA reports that 13 deaths from SIDS-preventing products have occurred over the past 13 years.
In its statement, the FDA goes on to say that such baby products are unnecessary and, based on the evidence, may be dangerous to a child. Additionally, manufacturers of these SIDS-preventing products, some of which state medical claims, are urged to remove all statements from packaging. As the agency has never approved a product to be SIDS-reducing or preventing, the FDA wants all manufacturers to wait until their products receive clearance or approval to put such claims on packaging.
But, if a parent is looking to reduce risks of SIDS, what are his or her options? Although a study indicated that some babies may be predisposed to SIDS because of serotonin levels, general rules of thumb for putting a baby to sleep are clear the crib of any object and put the baby on its back. SIDS-reducing products aside, a crib should not contain any stuffed animals, toys, or crib bumpers, as a baby could roll over and end up suffocating on one of these surfaces. Additionally, cords from baby monitors, lamps, or other devices should not be within reaching distance of the crib.
Recall of Bugaboo Bee Strollers
A brand associated with luxury baby products, Bugaboo introduced the $1,500 Donkey stroller earlier this year. Yet, just recently, the high-end stroller brand experienced a recall of its Bee model.
The Bugaboo Bee presents a tipping danger, resulting from a front wheel that sticks when swiveling. Because of an earlier shimmying problem for the same part, the brand switched a metal bearing with a plastic one.
All recalled models were sold from January to September 2011. In terms of what to do, Bugaboo has provided directions for parents. To sum up the major points:
• Parents can continue using the stroller as long as the front swivel wheels are locked for the time being.
• A repair kit is being issued to those who registered with the brand.
• Those who did not register, however, can fill out a request form online for a repair kit.
• The repair kit sent out will include a wheel replacement set with metal bearing wheels to prevent sticking.
Bugaboo also has a newer Bee model available, but this, too, still may have a shimmying problem. If you have the newer Bugaboo Bee stroller and the front wheel still shimmies, contact the brand for a washer ring set and instructions for correcting the issue.
In regards to the recall, Bugaboo issued a statement. They wrote:
“The safety and wellbeing of our customers and their children is paramount to Bugaboo. Previously this year we found that, although non-swiveling wheels affect the driving experience, we believed it did not affect the safety of the stroller.
“However, the latest safety assessment by an independent expert concluded, following further tests, that there is a small chance that the stroller’s front wheels could jam, which could make the stroller tip over.
“In light of this we believe that the safety profile of this product is inadequate and not up to our quality standard. We take this very seriously and therefore we immediately stop shipment and sales of the Bugaboo Bee.
[…]
“We believe that these metal bearing swivel wheels will be the solution to the non-swiveling issues some Bugaboo Bee customers are experiencing and remove any potential for tip-over and the risks associated with tip-over.”
California May Include Flame Retardant on List of Carcinogens
In recent news, California may decide to include a common flame retardant chemical on its list of carcinogens. How, exactly does this apply to baby products? While the chemical, chlorinated Tris, was once added to babies’ and children’s pajamas but removed in the 1970s, it is still present in crib mattresses.
Chlorinated Tris is the most common flame retardant added to furniture foam and baby products in the United States, but the EPA and CPSC have declared it a carcinogen. Worse, the flame retardant leaches out of furniture and ends up in dust, and you and your child end up inhaling and ingesting it unwittingly. The chemical, as well, has been associated with cancer in factory workers and lab animals, although manufacturers state that not enough evidence supports such claims.
California, if you are unaware, has the strictest flammability standards in the country and recently banned BPA. The state’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, also known as Proposition 65, is in place to protect residents from chemicals in drinking water that could cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm, and the governor yearly publishes a list of chemicals that meet Proposition 65’s requirements for cancer-causing or reproductive toxicity. Chlorinated Tris may end up on that list.
If the chemical does, it won’t be banned from furniture and baby products outright. Rather, products that do contain it will come with a warning label, much in the way that cigarettes and alcohol do.
Such an initiative will make identifying baby products with carcinogenic flame retardants easier. Because a baby spends about 70 percent of its first year sleeping, it could be highly exposed to chlorinated Tris and its effects. Parents looking to create a chemical-free sleeping area, as a result, have turned to products like Naturepedic organic cotton crib mattresses to stay away from toxic and artificial flame retardants.
B.O.B. Stroller Recall in U.S. and Canada
A recall of B.O.B. strollers was announced yesterday in the United States and Canada. 439,000 B.O.B. Trailers, Inc. jogging strollers are being recalled for choking hazards in both countries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada.
More specifically, this model of stroller, manufactured between November 1998 and November 2010, has an embroidered logo patch for Ironman® or Stroller Strides® on the canopy that detaches. The patch, if loose, poses a choking hazard to the child in the stroller, and so far, six instances of children putting these patches in their mouths were reported. Two out of these includes gagging or choking, although no injuries occurred. The patch can be found on all single and double jogging strollers by B.O.B.
This recall isn’t the first for B.O.B. this year, however. 357,000 units were recalled back in February because the canopy drawstring also posed a choking hazard.
According to the CPSC website, consumers should stop using these strollers immediately, until the canopy patch is removed. CPSC also states that the company will be supplying kits for removing said patch. For additional information, CPSC suggests contacting B.O.B. directly (contact information is on the CPSC site).
For concerned or confused parents, B.O.B. has its own website with visuals of the recalled features. This particular model will no longer be available through stores and selling it, as of the recall, is illegal.
If you fall into either category, you have two options – waiting for the kit to remove the patch or purchasing a new stroller. Considering this particular model by B.O.B. has been recalled twice this year, purchasing another jogging stroller may be the best option. Rather, if you like this particular stroller, wait until the company offers repair kits and, in the meantime, use any other stroller you have at home.
How to Carry a Baby in a Sling
Carrying children in slings creates a better bond between the parent and child, insists supporters of babywearing, but at what cost? A recent article in Australian newspaper The Age draws attention again to the fact that, if a baby is carried incorrectly in a sling, he or she can suffocate to death. The newspaper quotes experts telling parents to be watchful of their babies in slings.
As The Age mentions, not all parents are aware of the safety hazards of baby slings. Still, the Australian Competition and Consumer Committee, which issued the warning about slings, is developing safety standards for these popular baby carriers.
As we discussed before, baby carriers can face forwards and backwards, but how a baby is positioned is crucial. If you own a sling and are uncertain about how to use it, keep in mind the following points, courtesy of New York Times’ Motherload, and watch the video below:
• The baby should be in the same curved position as it is in your arms. The sling should not be loose enough that the baby moves away from the parent.
• The baby’s head should be close enough for the parent to kiss without bending.
• The sling must be tight enough around the parent and baby.
• The baby’s face should always be visible – never covered by fabric.
• When using the sling, parents should not feel back or neck pain. Otherwise, the carrier is being worn incorrectly.
A bond between the parent and child is important but not at the expense of the baby’s safety. Although instructions may not accompany a sling, find out beforehand how to position and carry a baby. If you need visuals for the steps above, watch the following video below for putting on a baby sling and positioning your baby inside:
California Close to Banning BPA in Baby Products
Certain states have banned BPA from baby products completely, and California may be next. Legislation to ban BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups is approaching passing, and will be voted on next week. In California, this particular issue has been in the public eye since 2006, when San Francisco enacted an ordinance banning BPA from such baby products; the ordinance, however, was repealed a year later.
The proposed law, The Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act (AB1319) would require manufacturers of such baby products to use the least toxic BPA. At the same time, manufacturers of toys and plastic containers have been looking for alternatives to BPA.
But, what exactly is so bad about BPA? The chemical, which is found in baby products, plastics, and even cash register receipts, mimics estrogen in the body and is quickly metabolized. The chemical causes hormonal and behavioral issues, including early puberty, hyperactivity, breast and prostate cancers, infertility, and obesity. CEO and director of Healthy Child, Healthy World stated:
“Children are uniquely vulnerable to toxic exposures. They are typically exposed to more toxics per pound of body weight. Their immature systems are less capable of excreting the toxics. And, perhaps most importantly, they are still developing, so exposures that may have no impact on an adult can create a domino effect of biological disruption in a child.”
Babies are particularly vulnerable to the effects of BPA, but adults can be, too. Now that the effects of BPA on babies are receiving attention, adults also want BPA-free products.
Although bottles, cups, and toys are labeled “BPA-free,” finding baby products completely devoid of plastic eliminates exposure risks. For babies, as we have mentioned before, this can be glass or stainless steel bottles. Adults, additionally, can follow the same approach and look for cups, dishware, and food containers made without plastic of any kind.
Right and Wrong Ways to Carry a Baby?
Filed under: Baby Gear, Baby Health, Parenting, Premier Baby Stores
Who knew that the way a child faces you affects their development? According to a recent piece in The Daily Mail, just facing your child forward and away from the mother makes the baby “suffer” and become an anxious adult. The same rule applies to parents using strollers.
According to Professor Catherine Fowler, parents who have a child face forward are “cruel and selfish”:
“Imagine if you were strapped to someone’s chest with your legs and arms flailing, heading with no control into a busy shopping center – it would be terrifying. Outward-facing baby carriers and prams give babies a bombardment of stimulus, creating a very stressful situation. In not considering our baby’s perspective, we are inadvertently quite cruel to children.”
At the same time, others decree that a baby facing its mother too much gets bored and needs to see the world. Seems like whatever a parent does, it’s wrong.
On one extreme is the Swedish woman in Massachusetts who left a baby in a stroller outside of a restaurant for 10 minutes and is currently being investigated. Yet, the woman claims that this practice is common in her home country.
The other is the trend of babywearing. A child, in a sling, is carried close to and facing his mother. According to a piece about babywearing from The Lufkin News, the child bonds better with its mothers and, as a result, cries less and is more restful. The mother, as well, has her hands free and is able to do daily tasks while carrying her child.
No matter if you agree with these experts or think their results are just more for parents to worry about, several options for carrying a child are available. Dada Baby Boutique, for instance, offers baby carriers that range from slings to wraps, and products allow a parent to face a child backwards or forward.
Drop-Side Cribs Still Sold Online
We’ve been following changing crib regulations for the past year, and while retail stores, daycares, and hotels have removed these antiquated and dangerous models, the internet is still not thoroughly regulated in regards to selling drop side cribs merchandise. A piece in USA Today mentions that, while drop-side cribs were officially banned on June 28, they continue to surface on Craigslist and eBay.
Much like buying secondhand baby products, purchasing on the internet is another approach, albeit risky, to saving money with a new child. Nevertheless, shopping for used baby furniture online poses greater risks than going to a consignment or thrift store for the same products – especially if you browse through listings on Craigslist or eBay.
While eBay, according to USA Today, has regulations in place and recently shut down crib auctions, sellers of drop-side cribs continued to slip through previously. Craigslist, on the other hand, is not as thoroughly monitored. Although the site changed its “prohibition notices and information page” to reflect recent crib regulations, listings are still flagged by users only.
While purchasing used baby products online is one option for saving money with a new child, approach it with caution – much more than if you were purchasing secondhand goods in person. With all secondhand baby products, online or in person, always be wary of furniture, as these items have the most wear and tear and are inferior in quality to new products. Additionally, as you can see from the recent news stories, recalled products may pop up online.
A parent in person can test out the sturdiness of the baby product; on the internet, this is not possible, and instead, the buyer relies on the seller’s description, which is not always accurate.
For inexpensive baby products, go to the internet for clothing, but avoid it altogether for furniture, as it poses too many risks. If secondhand baby furniture is a must, however, because of budget, opt for hand-me-downs or browse through thrift and consignment stores – or any place where you can test the stability of the item before purchasing.
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.