Be Child Safe

Author: Marianne Halterman

  • Pure Baby Organics Boys Hoodie Recalled by Chantique’s Corp. Due To Strangulation Hazard

    Recall Date: September 30, 2014

    Recall Number: 14-287

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Boy’s Zipper Hooded Hoodie

    Hazard: The sweaters have a drawstring around the neck area which poses a strangulation hazard to children. Drawstrings can become entangled or caught on playground slides, hand rails, school bus doors or other moving objects, posing a significant strangulation or an entanglement hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines about drawstrings in children’s upper outerwear. In 1997, those guidelines were incorporated into a voluntary standard. Then, in July 2011, based on the guidelines and voluntary standard, CPSC issued a federal regulation. CPSC’s actions demonstrate a commitment to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on neck and waist drawstrings in upper outerwear, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

    Remedy: Refund

    Consumer Contact: Chantique’s Corp collect at (213) 629-3222 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday or email at info@chantiquesshowroom.com for more information.

    Recall Details

    Units: About 60

    Description: This recall involves a Pure Baby Organic boy’s hoodie made of 100% cotton. It comes in solid gray with a red drawstring that is inside the lining of the hood that surrounds the face. They have a zipper front closure. The recalled hoodies were sold in toddler boy’s sizes 2t to boy’s size 3. There is a white label sewn into the neck line that has the name Purebaby on it. There is also a label underneath it that has the size printed on it and states Made in India. A label with style number PB1613.B12 is sewn into an inside side seam of the garment under the washing instruction label.

    Incidents/Injuries: None Reported

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the hoodie away from children. Consumers can remove the drawstring from the garment to eliminate the hazard or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

    Sold at: Children’s boutiques nationwide and other stores such as Elephant Ears, Pumpkin heads, Sprouts and on-line at www.Nordstromrack.com from January 2014 through August 2014 for about $62.

    Importer: Chantique’s Corp., Los Angeles, Calif.

    Manufactured in: China

  • Active Apparel Recalls Boys Fission Zipper Hooded Sweatshirts Due to Strangulation Hazard

    Recall Date: September 30, 2014

    Recall Number: 14-286

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Boys Zipper Hooded Sweatshirts

    Hazard: The sweatshirts have drawstrings around the neck area which pose a strangulation hazard to children. Drawstrings can become entangled or caught on playground slides, hand rails, school bus doors or other moving objects, posing a significant strangulation or an entanglement hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines about drawstrings in children’s upper outerwear. In 1997, those guidelines were incorporated into a voluntary standard. Then, in July 2011, based on the guidelines and voluntary standard, CPSC issued a federal regulation. CPSC’s actions demonstrate a commitment to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on neck and waist drawstrings in upper outerwear, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

    Remedy: Refund

    Consumer Contact: Active Apparel toll-free at (844) 861-5308 from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or online at www.activeapparel.net and click on the Recall tab located at the top of the home page.

    Recall Details

    Units: About 7,800

    Description: This recall involves boys Fission zipper hooded sweatshirts made of 100% cotton. The sweatshirts come in black, green, royal blue, true red and turquoise color. There is a white drawstring tie that is attached on each side of the neck area. There are two pockets and a white zipper on the front of the garment. The recalled sweatshirts were sold in boys sizes small (size 8-10) and medium (size 12-14). The size can be found on the label that is sewn into the seam of the neck area. There is also a white label sewn into the lower left seam inside the garment. On the label, it states Karachi Pakistan, Active Apparel, has the manufacture date “MAY, 2014,” and batch number 61271,159.

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the sweatshirt away from children. Consumers can remove the drawstring from the sweatshirt to eliminate the hazard or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund and a $10 gift card.

    Sold at: Fred Myer and Kroger stores nationwide from June 2014 through August 2014 for about $18.

    Importer: Active Apparel, Mira Loma, California.

    Manufactured in: Pakistan

  • Trimfoot Recalls Children’s Soft-Soled Sneakers Due to Choking Hazard; Sold exclusively at Macy’s

    Recall Date: September 30, 2014

    Recall Number: 14-284

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Children’s soft-soled shoes

    Hazard: A small metal eyelet can detach from the inside of the sneaker, posing a choking hazard to infants.

    Remedy: Refund

    Consumer Contact: Trimfoot at (800) 325-6116 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.trimfootco.com, then click on Recall on left side of the page for more information.

    Recall Details

    Units: 5,300

    Description: The recall involves First Impressions high-top, soft-soled sneakers for infants that are crawling or standing. The recalled shoes have blue denim soles and uppers, brown canvas tongues, tan shoe laces and white polyurethane toes. Each upper has eight 3/16 inch eyelets for the laces. The shoes came in sizes 0, 1, 2 and 3. Style number 42090 is on a cloth tag inside of shoe.

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled shoes away from children and return the shoes to Macy’s or contact Trimfoot for a full refund.

    Sold exclusively at: Macy’s stores nationwide from February 2014 to August, 2014 for about $17.

    Importer: Trimfoot Co. LLC., of Farmington, Mo.

    Manufactured in: China

  • IKEA Recalls Children’s Swing Due To Fall Hazard

    Recall Date: September 16, 2014

    Recall Number: 14-276

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumers should stop using this product unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: GUNGGUNG child’s swing

    Hazard: The suspension fittings can break causing a child to fall from the swing, posing a risk of serious injury.

    Remedy: Refund

    Consumer Contact: IKEA toll-free at (888) 966-4532 anytime or online at www.ikea-usa.com and click on the recall link at the top of the page for more information.

    Recall Details

    Units: About 2,000 in the United States and 300 in Canada

    Description: This recall involves IKEA GUNGGUNG Swing. GUNGGUNG is intended for indoor and outdoor use by children ages 3-7. It is made of green polyester fabric and hangs from a plastic suspension fitting attached to steel hooks. The full length of the suspension strap, including the sling seat, is 17 feet and the width of the seat is 0.8 feet. A permanent label is attached to one of the suspension straps, showing age recommendation (3-7), IKEA logo, Design and Quality IKEA of Sweden, GUNGGUNG article number 302.439.74, supplier number 17915 and Made in Vietnam.

    Incidents/Injuries: There have been four reports worldwide including one in Germany, two in Austria and one in Canada of the suspension fittings breaking in use. In one incident a child fell and sustained a fractured leg. No incidents have been reported in the US.

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately take down the swing to prevent use by children and return it to any IKEA store for a full refund. Proof of purchase is not required to receive a full refund for the return.

    Sold exclusively at: IKEA stores nationwide and online at www.ikea-usa.com in August 2014 for $20.

    Importer: IKEA North America Services LLC, of Conshohocken, Pa.

    Manufactured in: Vietnam

  • Livie & Luca Recalls Children’s Shoes Due to Laceration Hazard

    Recall Date: September 4, 2014

    Recall Number: 14-269

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumers should stop using this product unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: “Carta” and “Cotton” Children’s Shoes

    Hazard: A metal thread inside the interior shoe liner can loosen and poke through the shoe lining, posing a laceration hazard to the user.

    Remedy: Refund, Replacement

    Consumer Contact: Livie & Luca toll-free at (888) 548-5822 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, email info@livieandluca.com or online at www.livieandluca.com and click on the “Recall” tab on the top of the website for more information.

    Recall Details

    Units: 5,600

    Description: The recalled Livie & Luca children’s shoes include two styles: Carta and Cotton. The Carta style Mary Jane shoes are canvas, solid color shoes stitched to a tan sole with a fabric strap and a brown wooden button. The Carta shoes are blue, fuchsia or gray. The Cotton style Mary Jane canvas shoes have a stitched tan rubber sole and a colored fabric strap with a dandelion printed on a pink square button and a gingham or polka-dot cotton interior lining. The cotton shoes are yellow, green or red. Both the Carta and the Cotton style shoes were sold in toddler sizes 4 through 13. Only shoes with date codes 06 2013 through 12 2013 (Month Year) printed on the insole of the shoe are included in the recall. The Livie & Luca logo is printed on the inside of the shoe.

    Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received two reports of the metal thread coming through the liner of the shoe, including one report of a child’s foot that was cut by a metal thread poking through the shoe lining.

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately take these shoes away from children and contact the retailer where purchased for instructions on receiving a store credit or replacement. If purchased through Livie & Luca’s online, contact the firm for instructions on receiving a store credit for a free replacement pair of shoes with prepaid shipping before disposing of the shoes.

    Sold at: Children’s boutiques including Ready Set Grow in Tennessee and ZandyZoos in Texas and online at www.livieandluca.com, www.zappos.com, www.addyscloset.com and www.mylittlejules.com from January 2014 through March 2014 for about $54.

    Importer: Livie and Luca, of Emeryville, Calif.

    Manufactured in: Mexico

  • AmTRAN Video Recalls to Repair 42-Inch JVC Flat Panel Televisions Due to Risk of Tip Over

    Recall Date: September 4, 2014

    Recall Number: 14-270

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumers should stop using this product unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: JVC 42 inch flat panel televisions

    Hazard: The neck of the stand can crack and cause the television to tip over unexpectedly, posing a risk of impact injury to the consumer.

    Remedy: Repair

    Consumer Contact: AmTRAN Video toll-free at (855) 328-6650 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.jvc-tv.com and click on the Safety Notice tab at the bottom of the page for more information.

    Recall Details

    Units: About 27,000

    Description: This recall involves JVC 42-inch, Emerald Series Full HD 1080P LED flat panel televisions, model EM42FTR and serial number beginning with “T”. The flat panel televisions are black with “JVC” printed in the lower center of the television front. Model and serial numbers are located on the bottom left on the back of the television.

    Incidents/Injuries: JVC has received 16 reports of cracked television stand necks. No injuries have been reported.

    Remedy: Consumers using the stand assembly (neck and base) should immediately detach it, place the television in a safe location and contact AmTRAN Video for a replacement stand neck. Consumers with wall-mounted televisions should request the replacement neck in case the stand assembly is needed for future use.

    Sold at: BJ’s Wholesale, Costco Wholesale, Sam’s Club, Walmart, and other retail stores nationwide, online at Walmart.com, Costco.com, and other internet retailers from February 2014 through August 2014 for between $370 and $470.

    Importer: AmTRAN Video Corporation, of Irvine, Calif.

    Manufactured in: China

  • FGX International Recalls Children’s Sunglasses Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

    Recall Date: September 4, 2014

    Recall Number: 14-268

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumers should stop using this product unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Children’s sunglasses

    Hazard: Surface paint on the sunglasses contains excessive levels of lead, which is prohibited under federal law.

    Remedy: Replace, Refund

    Consumer Contact: Contact FGX International toll-free at (877) 227-0104 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.fgxi.com and click on “Recall” for more information.

    Recall Details

    Units: About 215,000

    Description: This recall includes 20 styles of Disney, Marvel and Sears/Kmart brand children’s sunglasses. They come in a variety of colors and with printed images of characters on the frames. Click here to view a complete list of style numbers located inside the sunglasses’ left temple arm that are included in the recall: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/FGX-International-Recalls-Childrens-Sunglasses/

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately take these sunglasses away from children and return them to FGX International for a free replacement or refund, including free shipping and handling.

    Sold at: Bon Ton, CVS, K-mart, Rite-Aid, Walgreens and other retail stores nationwide from December 2013 to March 2014 for between $7 and $13.

    Importer: FGX International Inc., of Smithfield, R.I.

    Manufactured in: China

  • Tray Vous Recalls Snack and Activity Trays for Strollers Due to Strangulation Hazard

    Recall Date: September 2, 2014

    Recall Number: 14-265

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumers should stop using this product unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Tray Vous™ snack and activity trays with connectors

    Hazard: The opening between the recalled tray and stroller seat bottom allows an unharnessed child’s body to pass through but could trap a child’s head, posing a strangulation hazard.

    Remedy: Replace

    Consumer Contact: Tray Vous at (800) 281-6483 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT or online at www.trayvous.com/recall for more information.

    Recall Details

    Units: About 770 in the United States and 90 in Canada

    Description: This recall involves Tray Vous snack and activity trays, which have connectors that fit into strollers.   The three-piece units include a black plastic tray with a cup holder, a left connector and a right connector.  The tray measures about 15 inches wide by 6 inches deep by .75 inches thick. The left and right plastic connectors measure about 4 inches long by 1.75 inches wide by .75 inches thick and are used to connect the tray to the stroller’s base. “Tray Vous” and “Patent Approved US7942437B2” are printed on a sticker underneath the tray.

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the recalled trays and connectors from strollers and contact Tray Vous to receive a free replacement tray and connectors.

    Sold at: Dainty Baby in Brooklyn, N.Y. and other juvenile product stores nationwide and online at daintybaby.com, mystroller.com, pacifier.com and trayvous.com from May 2011 through June 2012 for about $50.

    Importer: Tray Vous LLC, of San Diego, Calif.

    Manufactured in: China and Taiwan

  • Toddlers and Access to Guns… A Recipe for Disaster!

    We would like to think that it would be self-evident that if guns are accessible to babies in a home, that this is a recipe for disaster. We would hope that adults–if they have the sense that God gave geese–would lock away their weapons in a high place in their home or garage and spend the extra nickel it might cost to purchase a gun safe, ultimately, to ensure the safety of their family and their family’s friends, relatives and anyone who might visit their home.

    It’s a given, children get into things.  And, what is it about babies who gain access to guns, a worst case situation, that people do not seem to understand?  Children, especially toddlers, are curious and they put everything in their mouths. This scenario replays over and over again in cities and towns throughout this country.  And it needs to stop.

    People… parents, and I use the term loosely… who allow this situation to occur should be charged with reckless endangerment, at a minimum, or worse…

    According to Chicago Tribune’s article published online August 23, 2014, it was reported that a 3-year old boy was (no doubt, accidentally) shot in Chicago’s West Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side, about 7:30 p.m.  A boy in a closet with at least one other child was playing with a gun.  It discharged hitting the 3-year old in the head. The boy’s father took the gun and fled the scene. The article said, “It is unclear whether the boy’s mother was at the home.” (per Tribune Reporters Williams-Harris, Perez, and Gorner, 8/23/2014).

    What is wrong with this picture?  Plenty.  Need we say more?

  • Ace Bayou Bean Bag Chairs Recalled Due to Suffocation and Choking Hazards

    Release Date: August 22, 2014

    Release Number: 14-261

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Bean bag chairs

    Hazard: The zippers on the bean bag chairs can be opened by children who can then crawl inside, get trapped and suffocate or choke on the bean bag chair’s foam beads.

    Remedy: Repair

    Consumer Contact: Ace Bayou toll-free at (855) 751-8151 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or online at www.acebayou.com and click on “Recall Information” for more information.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Ace Bayou Corp., of New Orleans, La., are announcing the voluntary recall of about 2.2 million bean bag chairs following the deaths of two children.

    The zippers on the bean bag chairs can be opened and children can then crawl inside, get trapped and suffocate or choke on the bean bag chair’s foam beads. The voluntary standard requires non-refillable bean bag chairs to have closed and permanently disabled zippers.

    A 13-year old boy from McKinney, Texas died and a 3-year-old girl from Lexington, Ky. died after suffocating from lack of air and inhaling the chair’s foam beads. Both children were found inside the chairs.

    The recalled bean bag chairs have two zippers that can be unzipped and opened, including one of the exterior cover and other directly underneath that zipper.  The recalled chairs with zippers that open were sold in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors and fabrics. They include round or L-shaped, vinyl or fabric, and are filled with polystyrene foam beads. They were sold in a variety of colors, including purple, violet, blue, red, pink, yellow, Kelly green, black, port, navy, lime, royal blue, turquoise, tangerine and multi-color.  The round bean bag chairs were sold in three sizes, 30, 32 and 40 inches in diameter. The L-shaped bean bag chair measures 18 inches wide by 30 inches deep by 30 inches high. “ACE BAYOU CORP” is printed on a tag sewn into the bean bag chair’s cover seam. They were made in China.

    The recalled bean bag chairs were sold at Bon-Ton, Meijer, Pamida, School Specialty, Wayfair and Walmart stores and online at Amazon.com, Meijer.com and Walmart.com before July 2013 for between $30 and $100.

    Consumers should check their bean bag chairs for any zippers that can open, take those that can open away from children immediately and contact Ace Bayou for a free repair kit to permanently disable the zippers so that they cannot be opened.