Author: Marianne Halterman

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using CCATTO brand baby tents because they do not comply with mandatory federal safety standards for infant sleep products and because they contain a banned infant pillow, posing a fall hazard and risk of suffocation to infants.

The baby tents fail to meet the safety requirements of CPSC’s Infant Sleep Products Rule, creating an unsafe sleeping environment for infants. The failures include: the tents are not supported by free standing legs and do not meet the markings and labeling and instructional literature requirements. In addition, the tents contain a banned infant pillow. The pillow is loosely filled with a granular material, including but not limited to, polystyrene beads or pellets and is intended or marketed for use by children under one year of age. The tent and its packaging also lack a tracking label containing certain required information, including the date of manufacture.

The seller, LA.INNO Direct, of China, has not responded to CPSC’s request for a recall.

The baby tents were advertised as a Portable Baby Tent, CCATTO Pop Up Beach Tent for Baby, Enhanced Ventilation, UPF 50+ Sun Shelter for Infant, Baby Camping Bed with Mosquito Net (Pegs, Travel Bag, Bonus Cooling Sleeping Kit Included). The baby tents have “CCATTO” branded on the top and are gray with neon green trim. The baby tents were sold online at www.amazon.com and other websites for about $30 in recent years. There is no labeling on the baby tents. 

Although the Infant Sleep Products rule applies to products manufactured after June 23, 2022, CPSC urges firms to consider stopping sale of non-compliant infant sleep products regardless of the date of manufacture. These tents do not have a required date of manufacture labeled on the product or packaging. CPSC urges consumers to stop using the tents, cut the fabric, and dispose of the fabric and the pillow immediately. Report any incidents involving product injuries or defects to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov.

Parent and caregivers are reminded:

• The best place for an infant to sleep is on a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard.
• Use a fitted sheet only and never add blankets, pillows, padded crib bumpers, or other items to an infant’s sleeping environment.
• Infants should always be placed to sleep on their back. Infants who fall asleep in an inclined or upright position should be moved to a safe sleep environment with a firm, flat surface such as a crib, bassinet or play yard.

Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic.  Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using Girasol Rainbow Love Woven Wrap sling carriers because they do not comply with the federal safety standard for sling carriers and infants can fall out of them. CPSC also urges consumers to avoid similar products from Girasol because they likely pose the same risk.

CPSC testing revealed the Girasol Rainbow Love Sling Wrap carriers fail to meet the federal safety standard for sling carriers, including requirements for structural integrity and occupant retention. Additionally, the instructions contain incomplete warning statements required for the sling carriers. Sling carriers manufactured after January 30, 2018, are subject to the mandatory federal safety standard.

The importer Baby Earthling LLC (d/b/a Wrap Your Baby), of Mountainair, New Mexico, has not agreed to recall the sling carriers.

These sling carriers were sold online at www.wrapyourbaby.com until November 2022 for between $120 and $165. The carriers are made of a woven cotton fabric in a rainbow print that starts with red on one end, then orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and ending with violet on the other end. The sling carriers were in sizes 5 to 9, 2.60 meters to 6 meters (8.5 feet to 19.6 feet) and are intended for infants weighing between 8 and 35 pounds.

CPSC is aware of other similar Girasol sling carriers offered for sale online at www.wrapyourbaby.com in the following models: Girasol Sherwood Woven Wrap Carrier, Girasol Rainbow Baby Woven Wrap, Barefoot Rainbow Girasol Woven Wrap, Sunshine Rainbow Girasol Woven Wrap, Girasol Atlantis Woven Wrap, Girasol Ocean Rain Woven Wrap, Girasol Wisteria Purple Woven Wrap, and Girasol Earth Woven Wrap but has not specifically tested the safety of those carriers, for which test samples are not currently available.

CPSC urges consumers to stop using the sling carriers, cut the wraps to prevent future use, and dispose of the product. Report any incidents involving injury or product defect to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov.

Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic.  Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using Momaid infant loungers because they do not comply with federal safety standards for infant sleep products, posing a risk of suffocation and a fall hazard to infants.

The loungers fail to meet the safety requirements of CPSC’s Infant Sleep Products Rule because they do not have a stand. In addition, the lounger fails to meet the side height, markings and labeling, and instructional literature requirements. These failures create an unsafe sleeping environment for infants. The lounger and its packaging also lack a tracking label containing certain required information, including the date of manufacture.

The seller, Zhejiang Juster Trading LLC, of China, is not cooperating with the CPSC on a recall of this product and is not offering a remedy to consumers. 

The infant loungers were advertised as a Baby Lounger Portable Infant Co Sleeping Bassinet Newborn Cocoon Snuggle Reversible Nest Bed Travel Crib. They were sold with a pillow and in four different printed fabrics: Banana Gray Leaf, Blue Palm Leaf, Mint Lychee Leaf and Pink Lychee Leaf. The loungers were sold online at www.amazon.com and other websites for about $55. There is no labeling on the infant loungers. 

Although the Infant Sleep Products rule is applicable to products manufactured on or after June 23, 2022, CPSC urges firms to consider stopping sale of non-compliant infant sleep products regardless of the date of manufacture. These loungers do not have a required date of manufacture labeled on the product or packaging, and therefore, the CPSC urges consumers to stop using the loungers, cut the fabric, and dispose of the fabric and the pillow immediately. Report any incidents involving product injuries or defects to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov.

Parents and caregivers are reminded:

• The best place for an infant to sleep is on a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard.
• Use a fitted sheet only and never add blankets, pillows, padded crib bumpers, or other items to an infant’s sleeping environment.
• Infants should always be placed to sleep on their back. Infants who fall asleep in an inclined or upright position should be moved to a safe sleep environment with a firm, flat surface such as a crib, bassinet or play yard.

By Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Mike Roizen, MDs

What do credit cards, hockey helmets, kids’ toys, trashcans, toothpaste, deodorants, and shaving creams have in common? They all could contain triclosan, which for a long time has been touted as an effective antimicrobial agent for killing bacteria.

Then it was discovered that triclosan could contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant germs — super bugs — and the Food and Drug Administration banned its use in hospital cleaning agents and consumer soaps.

Unfortunately, the FDA can’t regulate paints, clothes, sporting equipment, or furniture. That’s why you still can find triclosan in those products, as well as anything else that advertises itself as having “antimicrobial properties.”

And it continues to cause problems, both for the biosphere and for you.

A study published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy revealed how triclosan can help bacteria become more resistant to antibiotic treatments for diseases such as urinary tract infections. Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis found that repeated triclosan exposure makes bacteria able to survive “normally lethal concentrations of antibiotics,” including Cipro.

Previous research has found that triclosan alters hormone regulation and could be harmful to your immune system.

Be on your guard for clothing, house paints, toys, etc. that claim to control or kill germs and bacteria. There’s a good chance they contain triclosan. Manufacturers are not required to put that information in their labeling.

Washing your hands thoroughly with plain soap and water is just as effective at getting rid of unwanted bacteria as so-called antimicrobials.

Release Date: May 23, 2023

Release number: 23-209

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Memorial Day weekend is the traditional kick-off for summer, a time when many people will enjoy more outdoor activities. From riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs), to taking a swim and firing up the grill, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is reminding consumers of the hazards involved and the steps to help protect themselves and their families, especially children.

ATV Riding

All-terrain vehicles are the most popular of the OHVs. They can be a lot of fun, but they can also be dangerous if not used properly. According to CPSC’s latest report, from 2017 through 2019, there were 2,178 deaths associated with OHVs, nearly 70% were ATVs and 283 OHV deaths were children under 16 years old. CPSC estimates that in 2021, there were 106,600 emergency room treated injuries associated with OHVs and 29% were to children under 16 years old. The dangers of riding OHVs are real and include overturning, collisions, and occupant ejection.

It is important to follow these ATV safety tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable ride. 

• Training: Get hands-on training from a qualified instructor. 
• Seats: Never ride with more passengers than there are seats. Most ATVs are designed for one rider. 
• Stay Off Roads: Stay off paved roads. Never ride on public roads, except to cross, where permitted by law. 

• No Drinking: Avoid drinking alcohol before or while driving an ATV.
• Age Limits: Riders younger than 16 should drive only age-appropriate youth models -never adult models. 
• Safety Gear: Always wear a helmet and other protective gear, such as eye protection, boots, gloves, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. 

Pool Safely                 

A dip in the pool may be a good way to escape the heat, but it is important to remember to stay vigilant when it comes to water safety. From 2017 through 2019, there were an average of 389 yearly pool- or spa-related, fatal drownings involving children younger than 15 years old and in 2021, there were nearly 6,800 nonfatal drowning injuries treated in emergency departments for that age group. Children under 5 years old accounted for 73% of the fatal child drownings. 

To prevent tragedies from happening at the pool, CPSC recommends following these safety tips:

• Supervision: Never leave children unattended in or near a pool, and always designate an adult to watch over the pool area.
• Barriers: Install barriers around the pool, to prevent unsupervised access by children.
• Swimming Skills: Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim.
• Drains: Keep children away from pool drains and ensure that they are properly covered to prevent entrapment.
• CPR: Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults.
• See additional pool safety tips and kids pool games at www.poolsafely.gov.

Outdoor Cooking and Grilling

Outdoor cooking and grilling are popular summer activities, and while fun and enjoyable, they can also be dangerous if not done with safety in mind. On average, 13 deaths occur every year, and in 2022, there were 5,400 ER-treated injuries associated with grills, burns being the most common.

Common grilling hazards include fires, burns, and carbon monoxide poisoning. To reduce these risks and have a safe grilling experience, follow some general safety tips.

• Recalls: Check www.cpsc.gov to see if the grill has been recalled – follow the remedy if recalled.
• Inspect: Look over the grill and any gas hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks. Replace, if necessary. 
• Location: Use grills outside only, in well-ventilated areas and never indoors, in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch or under a surface that will burn. 
• Starters: Only use appropriate fire starters and only before lighting the fire. Never add liquid fuel after trying to start a fire.
• Observe: Never leave a hot grill unattended and keep children away from the grill area. 
• Clean up: Clean your grill with a ball of aluminum foil or nylon brushes, instead of wire grill brushes, to prevent stray wire brush strands from ending up in the food.
• Extinguishers: Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and make sure that everyone knows how to use it.

Report any unsafe products or any incidents where someone was hurt by a product to CPSC at SaferProducts.gov.

Additional Resources:

Consumer Educational Brochure: Simple Water Safety Steps Save Lives (English / Spanish)
Charcoal Grill Safety Tips (English & Spanish)

Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic.  Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.