More than 2 million baby cribs and strollers were recalled last week, when the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced safety hazards with three models of Graco strollers and numerous Dorel Asia drop-side baby cribs. And the dangers don't end with baby gear. A third recall affects McNeil Consumer Healthcare products, including Children's Motrin Chewable Tablets and Children's Tylenol Meltaway Tablets.
About 1.5 million Graco strollers were labeled dangerous, after the company received reports of several children having their fingertips injured or amputated as the stroller canopy was opened or closed.
The hinge issue comes just two months after a Maclaren stroller recall with a similar hinge issue, which affected one million strollers.
Graco is offering a free protective cover repair kit to stroller owners, which covers the hinge.
Find full details about the Graco recall here.
The Dorel Asia drop-side crib recall involves 635,000 cribs. On these cribs, the drop-side hardware can fail, creating a space between the crib and rail where an infant or toddler can become entrapped and possibly suffocated or strangled. Many drop-side cribs pose this same hazard when hardware fails, which has led the industry to move away from manufacturing this style of crib. Retailer Toys "R" Us stopped carrying this style of cribs in early 2009, due to safety concerns.
"There has been a growing appreciation of the danger of drop-side cribs," says Diane Debrovner , Deputy Editor at Parents magazine. Parents may feel that their crib is fine, if they've been actively using it without problems. But Debrovner warns the risks increase over time.
"Over time, the hardware can wear out and create a dangerous gap for the first time," she says.
Find more information about the Dorel Asia recall, read more here.Crib companies have responded by creating new styles of cribs, such as a crib where the front side has a hinge that folds down for easy crib access.
Dorel Asia is offering consumers a replacement kit for the hardware, and advises parents find alternate sleeping arrangements for their child in the meantime, such as a bassinet for an infant or a portable crib for an older baby or toddler. However, Debrovner suggests a new crib may be a safer choice, considering the concerns over drop-side cribs.
"It's hard to tell parents to go and buy a new crib, but if your child might be the one who has a tragic accident, it's worth it," she says.
See all the largest recalls of the last year.
The Motrin and Children's Tylenol recall is part of a larger recall affecting McNeil Consumer Healthcare products. This ongoing recall began in December, due to complaints about moldy, musty, and mildew-like odors in certain products, resulting in nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea for consumers. Though the health effects have been reported as temporary and not serious, the recall has gradually expanded to encompass a number of over-the-counter drugs from the company. The problem was caused by contamination from trace amounts of a chemical used on the wooden pallets that transport and store the packaging materials.
To see if you have affected children's medication in your cabinet, visit McNeil's Web site.
Want up-to-date information on product recalls:
- See Whether Your Child's Gear is Safe with Parents.com's Product Recall Database.
- Get the Latest Recall Alerts from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
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