Green Treehouse

Feb. 4, 2009: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a voluntary recall of approximately 100,000 Safety 1st SmartLight Stair Gates (model number 42111 and manufactured before December 31, 2007).

According to CPSC, the gates are voluntarily recalled because “The hinges that hold the stair gate in place can break, posing a fall hazard to children if the gate is placed at the top of the stairs.”

Consumers are advised to stop using the gate and contact the manufacturer.

To learn more about the recall or to determine whether your gate is affected by the recall (and to see an image of the gate), click here.

January 30, 2009: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a voluntary recall of approximately 3,000 136-piece Mega Construction Play sets manufactured by DDI Inc. The recall involves play sets “packaged in a black and yellow box with the word ‘Builder’ printed in the upper left hand corner of the package,” and “includes various construction equipment, vehicles, buildings and roads.” The sets were sold from October 2008 through December 2008 at various hardware and farm stores.

According to CPSC, the toy play sets are voluntary recalled because “Surface paint on the play sets can contain lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.”

No injuries have been reported.

To determine whether your toy may be affected by the recall, to view an image of the recalled toy, or to read the news release click here.

There’s talk lately about new Children’s Product Safety Laws, but what are they and what do they mean for parents and our children? If you want the full scoop, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) gives consumers the lowdown in this news release.

The short is that in beginning in February 10, 2009, new requirements kick in for manufacturers, importers and retailers of children’s products, which according to CPSC specify that:

children’s products cannot be sold if they contain more than 600 parts per million (ppm) total lead. Certain children’s products manufactured on or after February 10, 2009 cannot be sold if they contain more than 0.1% of certain specific phthalates or if they fail to meet new mandatory standards for toys.

The new legislation also imposes additional safety requirements, which can be read in summary form in this CPSC news release.

January 15, 2009: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a voluntary recall of Infantino Lion and Lamb Grabby Rattles. The recall affects approximately 131,000 rattles, though CPSC states that, “Rattles without tails on the animals and products with production codes of 0108 and 0508 are not affected by this recall.” The rattles were sold at major retailers and other specialty stores from May 2007 through September 2008.

According to CPSC, “The tail-piece on the rattles can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.” Parents and caregivers are advised to discontinue use of the rattles immediately.

To read more about the recall or to determine whether your Infantino Infant Rattle is affected by the recall, click here.

January 15, 2009: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a voluntary recall of Fisher-Price Rainforest Portable Play Yards, manufactured by Simplicity Inc. and SFCA Inc. The recall affects approximately 200,000 play yards.

The recalled play yards are portable and were sold with a bassinet, changing table, and mobile features. The products have a Rainforest™ patterned fabric, Rainforest themed artwork and bear the “Fisher-Price” logo. The Simplicity Inc. model numbers are 5310 RNF, 5310RNFC, and 5310RNFW. The model number is located on a sticker on one of the legs underneath the play yard.

According to CPSC, the danger is that “One or more rails can collapse unexpectedly, posing a fall or entrapment hazard to young children.” There have been numerous reports of injuries to children caused by collapsed railings. Consumers are advised to stop using the portable play cribs immediately.

To read the recall notice or to learn whether your play crib is affected by the recall, click here.

New parents have one more thing to worry about this morning: the safety of U.S. infant formula. Traces of the chemical melamine have been found in recent samples of popular U.S. infant formula brands. According to the Director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, “The levels that we are detecting are extremely low,” and [parents and caregivers] “should not be changing the diet. If they’ve been feeding a particular product, they should continue to feed that product. That’s in the best interest of the baby.”

Earlier this year, melamine was found in Chinese infant formula and has been linked to at least three infant deaths. Melamine is also linked to making thousands ill. More recently, melamine was discovered in certain candy, causing parents to avoid imported Halloween candy.

Melamine ingestion can lead to kidney and bladder issues, including kidney failure. Exposure to the chemical arises when it is leaches from food packaging or from equipment used during food processing.

To read more about Melamine found in U.S. Infant Formula, click here.

September 17, 2008: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a voluntary recall of about 600,000 Simplicity Brand Drop Side Cribs due to entrapment and suffocation hazard. Consumers are advised to immediately discontinue use, since “Due to sizing problems with the crib’s hardware, the drop side can come off the tracks. When the drop side detaches or partially detaches, it creates a hazardous gap, which can lead to infant entrapment and suffocation.” According to CPSC:

The recalled model numbers include: 8620, 8745, 8748, 8755, 8756, 8778, 8810, and 8994. The recalled drop side cribs have a date code, which can be found on a label on the headboard under the mattress support, which ends in 05DH, 05GB, 06DH, 06GB, 07DH or 07GB (examples: 1806 DH or 0507 GB). The recalled model names include: Aspen and Crib N Changer Combo, Gabrielle, Camille, Providence and Shenandoah. Only the brand name “Simplicity” can be seen on the label on the headboard.

The cribs were sold from January 2005 through August 2008 in department stores, children’s stores and mass merchandisers nationwide.

To learn more about the recall or to determine whether your crib is involved in this recall, click here.

September 3, 2008: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a voluntary recall of Action Baby Carriers, manufactured by Optave Inc. The affected baby carriers were sold from May 2008 through June 2008, “in various colors and patterns: blue, brown, green, ’so square’, ‘the larrisa’ and ’spring breeze.’”

According to CPSC, “The baby carrier’s chest strap can detach from the shoulder straps, posing a fall hazard to the baby.”

For more information about the recall or to learn whether your infant carrier may be affected by the recall, check out the CPSC news release here.

August 27, 2008: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) is urging consumers to discontinue use of Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible “Close-Sleeper” Bassinets. At least two infant deaths due to strangulation have been reported. CPSC urges consumers to spread news of this safety alert because the company (SFCA Inc.) that owns Simplicity has refused to cooperate with the government and recall the bassinets.

According to CPSC, “The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets contain metal bars spaced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, which is the maximum distance allowed under the federal crib safety standard. The metal bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the velcro is not properly re-secured when the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrapped in the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar.”

Click here to learn more about this CPSC safety alert.

Whether you have five plus years to go until your baby heads off to school or are sending your baby to kindergarten (or beyond) this year, check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (”CPSC”) Tips for Back to School Safety (August 19, 2008).

Here are two tips that made the list:

* Avoid Children’s Clothing with Drawstrings. According to CPSC, “Drawstrings at the hood or neck area are a strangulation hazard. They can catch on playground equipment and other items. Remove hood and neck drawstrings from upper outerwear clothing already in your child’s closet, and do not buy children’s clothing that uses them.”

* Confirm that playground equipment is safe. “Check with school officials to make sure that equipment has been inspected and maintained.” Parents can even listen to a podcast on playground safety here.