Product Recall: Aqua Dots

Spin Master, of Toronto, Canada, announced a safety recall of Aqua Dots. Manufactured in China, nearly 4.2 million were sold in Canada and the United States between April 2007 through November 2007 for between $17 and $30.

The product has also been marketed in Australia as Bindeez.

The coating on the beads that causes the beads to stick to each other when water is added contains a chemical that can turn toxic when many are ingested. Children who swallow the beads can become comatose, develop respiratory depression, or have seizures.

News accounts are reporting that it’s a similar hallucinogenic effect of a “date rape” drug.

Action:
Consumers should immediately take the recalled toy away from children and contact Spin Master to return for free replacement beads or a toy of equal value. Call (800) 622-8339 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Related Links:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Seven More Product Recalls

1. Children’s Metal Jewelry Recalled By WeGlow International Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

2. Dollar Tree Stores Inc. Recalls Children’s Jewelry Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

3. Serious Head Injuries Prompt Recall of Bumbo Baby Sitter Seats - New Warnings and Instructions to Be Provided To Consumers

4. Fisher Price Recalls Go Diego Go Boat Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

5. Jo-Ann Stores Expands Recall of Children’s Toy Garden Tools Due to Violation of Lead in Paint Standard

6. DecoPac Inc. Recalls Football Bobble Head Cake Decorations Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

7. Family Dollar Stores Recalls Halloween Pails Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Details on all the above can be found at CPSC.gov

Product Recall: Britax Marathon Child Seat

Britax Child Safety, Inc. announced a recall of the Marathon child restraint, model numbers E9L06, E9W06, and E906. The recall includes production of the Marathon child restraints from May 23, 2006 through July 28, 2006 and with a top tether lot number of KGR 01 A. A child could be injured under certain circumstances.

Action:
To address this issue, Britax will send all registered owners of the Marathon child restraints manufactured between May 23, 2006 and July 28, 2006 a top tether hook replacement.

For complete details, visit MarathonRecall.com or call 1-800-683-2045.

Related Links:
Product Recall: Britax Decathlon Child Seat

Safety Recalls From KB Toys

KB Toys announced a recall of toys with excessive lead levels in the surface paint. Manufactured in China, these toys were sold in the United States between 2005-2007.

ACTION: If you have any toys that look similar to the ones below, please take them away from the child until you can verify whether it has been recalled by the manufacturer.

More information can be found here:
KB Toys Recall Info
KB Toys Recalls Wooden Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Or call KB Toys toll-free at (888) 843-9520 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

10-in-1 Activity Learning Carts

Flip-Flop Alphabet Blocks

Wooden Pull-Along Alphabet & Math Blocks Wagons and Learning Blocks Wagons

Safety Recall: 12 Models of Kolcraft Infant Play Yards

Nearly 425,000 infant play yards by Kolcraft Enterprises, of Chicago Illinois, are being recalled recalling following the death of a child. A 10-month old boy was strangled on the changing table’s restraint strap that was hanging down into Kolcraft’s “Sesame Beginnings” Travel Play Yard where the child was located. Manufactured in China and sold in the United States, the play yards were sold at retail stores nationwide from January 2001 through September 2007 for between $50 and $130. All of the play yards have raised changing tables with a restraint strap that forms a loop beneath the changing table, posing a strangulation hazard to a child in the play yard. The recalled Kolcraft models include: Kolcraft Travelin’ Tot, Kolcraft Travelin’ Tot LTD Kolcraft Travelin’ Tot 3-in-1 Kolcraft Travelin’ Tot 4-in-1 Carter’s Lennon Travelin’ Tot “Sesame Beginnings” by Kolcraft Travel Play Yard Jeep Sahara SE Play Yard Jeep Sahara Limited Play Yard Jeep Sahara XT Play Yard Jeep Sahara Limited SE Play Yard Jeep Sahara Limited XT Play Yard Contours 3-in-1 Play Yard (with rocking cradle and changing table restraint strap) ACTION: Parents and caregivers should immediately stop using the changing tables and rocking cradle and contact the firm for instructions on receiving a free repair kit. View Press Release for photos, specific model numbers and markings to identify affected models. Kolcraft Company Web Site

Safety Recall: Simplicity Crib Also Sold Under Graco Logo

Nearly 1 million cribs by Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa., are being recalled.

Manufactured in China and sold in the United States, the drop-side can detach from the crib, which can create a dangerous gap and lead to the entrapment and suffocation of infants.

The death of a 9 month old and a 6 month old are attributed to Simplicity manufactured cribs with older style hardware, where the drop-side was installed upside down. There are also additional cases of infant entrapments and 55 incidents in these cribs.

The recalled Simplicity crib models include:
Aspen 3 in 1
Aspen 4 in 1
Nursery-in-a-Box
Crib N Changer Combo
Chelsea
Pooh 4 in 1

The recall also involves the following Simplicity cribs that used the Graco logo:
Graco Aspen 3 in 1
Graco Ultra 3 in 1
Graco Ultra 4 in1
Graco Ultra 5 in 1
Graco Whitney
Graco Trio

The recalled cribs have one of the following model numbers, which can be found on the envelope attached to the mattress support and on the label attached to the headboard:
4600, 4605, 4705, 5000, 8000, 8324, 8800, 8740, 8910, 8994, 8050, 8750, 8760, and 8996.

The cribs were sold in department stores, children’s stores and mass merchandisers nationwide from January 1998 through May 2007 for between $100 and $300.

ACTION: Parents and caregivers to check all Simplicity cribs to make sure the drop-side is installed right side up.

View Press Release with photos to recognize the hardware

Simplicity Company Web Site

Toys ‘r Us Makes Public Commitment to Child Safety

I received an email from Toys ‘r Us last night…

When it comes to the safety of children, the bar can never be too high, and we are constantly looking at ways to build on our already substantial safety efforts. That is why today we are announcing further improvements that will ensure you have access to even more rapid and detailed information on safety issues. These improvements include:

• A new Safety microsite at www.Toysrus.com/Safety to help you find all product safety and recall information;
• The introduction of an email notification system for product recalls;
• The addition of bilingual recall notices should there be future recalls; and
• The introduction of new Safety Boards in all of our stores, which will contain important product safety information, including recall notices

Kudos to the company for communicating with their customers. Safety Boards is interesting, as long as they are placed in a prominent place. Too often (in stores like Toys ‘r Us, Target, Kmart, etc.) I’ve seen product recall fliers in obscure places, like the bathroom or occasionally at the checkout. Hidden and treated as an afterthought, with no real attention drawn to them. It will be interesting to see how long this lasts until we all become complacent again.

-BD

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