Massive Baby Crib Recall

Stork Craft Recalls More Than 500,000 Cribs; Mattress Support Bracket Failures Create Risk of Entrapment and Suffocation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Stork Craft Baby Cribs

Units: About 535,000 (including 92,000 with the Fisher-Price logo)

Manufacturer: Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc., of British Columbia, Canada

Hazard: The metal support brackets used to support the crib mattress and mattress board can crack and break. When one or more support brackets break, the mattress can collapse and create a dangerous gap between the mattress and crib rails, in which a child can become entrapped and suffocate.

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC is aware of 10 incidents in which one or more mattress support brackets broke. In several incidents, the support bracket broke causing the mattress to collapse and create a gap between the mattress and crib rails. CPSC received a report of a toddler who sustained bruises to his forehead. In another incident a child reportedly became entrapped in the gap between the mattress and the drop side rail with no injury.

Description: This recall involves Stork Craft Baby cribs and Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. All Stork Craft Baby cribs with manufacturing and distribution dates between May 2000 and November 2008 are included in this recall. All Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo have distribution dates between May 2000 and December 2004. The cribs were sold in various styles and finishes. The manufacture date, model number, crib name, country of origin, and the firm’s name, address, and contact information are located on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board. The firm’s insignia “Storkcraft baby” or “storkling” is inscribed on the drop side teething rail of some cribs. In the product that contains the “Fisher-Price” logo, this logo can be found on the crib’s teething rail, in the manufacturer’s instructions, on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board, and on the end panels of the Twinkle-Twinkle and Crystal crib models.

Sold at: Major retailers including J.C. Penney, Kmart and Walmart stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, Babiesrus.com, Costco.com and Walmart.com from May 2000 through January 2009 for between $100 and $400.

Manufactured in: Canada, China and Indonesia

Remedy: CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free replacement kit, with new mattress support brackets.

Consumer Contact: Contact Stork Craft toll-free at (866) 361-3321 anytime to order the free replacement kit or log on to www.storkcraft.com

Dorel Stair Gates Recall

The following is taken from a press release issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on August 6, 2009. For complete details, visit the enclosed link.
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Dorel Juvenile Group Expands Recall of Safety 1st Stair Gates Due to Fall Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Safety 1st SmartLight Stair Gates

Units: About 31,500 (100,000 units were previously recalled in February 2009)

Importer: Dorel Juvenile Group USA, of Columbus, Ind.

Hazard: 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.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recall involves the Safety 1st SmartLight Stair Gate with model number 42111, which is printed on a sticker under the handle panel. The gates, which were manufactured before December 20, 2008, are white metal with a gray handle and a motion sensor nightlight that illuminates on approach. The manufacture date is located below the gate’s handle as a date wheel imprinted in the plastic; an arrow indicates the month, and the year is stamped inside the circle. The manufacture date is also printed on a sticker inside the battery door.

Properly Installing Stair Gates and Safety Gates

When it comes to installing stair gates for protection of children and pets, it is important to make sure you are doing everything possible to install them properly. Stair gates may seem to be easy enough to install but they often times come with a long set of instructions and options. Why is this? Can the installation process of stair gates and safety gates really be that difficult?

First consider that the stair gates and safety gates can be installed in a number of ways. It can depend on how you want the gate to open or whether you simply want the safety gates to stay in place and never be moved. It is also important to pay close attention to the area in which you will be installing your gate. The various materials to which
the gate will be attached determine the way that it should be installed.

If installing to the wall you will generally need to make sure that there are wood studs beneath the drywall so that the stair gates attach securely and safely. If there is not enough support under the drywall, or your anchors are not strong, the stair gates will pull away from the wall pressure is applied. This is not something that is worth
risking, especially if you have small children or larger pets.

Because of the safety issues, it is important to make sure that you are following the installation instructions step by step. This is the only way to make sure that you are completing the installation process properly. Even if you feel as though you have installed enough of these stair gates in your lifetime, it is vital to make sure that you are again reading the instructions. You just never know when another step has been added in order to increase effectiveness or to address safety concerns.

Additionally, to ensure that you are installing the stair gates properly, you may want to research the Internet for new tips. With all of the “how to” content, you should have no problem finding additional resources or video demonstrations installing stair gates. By watching the process from start to finish you will be better equipped with the knowledge needed in order to complete the task at hand.

To summarize, be sure to inspect the installation area, have the proper tools on hand, follow the directions, and perhaps watch a demonstration video, you will be able to install the stair gates without any problems. If you are still unsure as to the proper installation of the stair gates, have someone with you to walk you through the directions as you work. By making it a team effort, you can
proof the work and be completed in a short time.