Recalls

So this morning I found an article about a popular toddler toy that has not been recalled despite serious safety concerns and fire hazard. After reading that, I decided to look up other worrisome toys and baby things.


First, here is the hazardous toy that has not been recalled:

Fisher Price Soothe & Glow Seahorse

The article on the fire safety concerns
The article says it is the 7th best-selling toddler toy on Amazon, but as of this writing (March 1, 2014), it is actually the 4th best-selling toddler toy on Amazon.

University of Denver electrical engineering professor Dr. David Gao investigated a toy brought to him by parents and experienced the same problems as many consumers. After putting in new batteries, "the coil began to burn. It turned bright red, smoke poured out of the compartment, and the plastic casing around it began to melt." If left burning to keep going, the battery may explode. "Dr. Gao said the burn risk isn't the only problem. He said the fumes from the melting plastic can be poisonous, and overheated batteries are dangerous, too. He believes the problem with the Soothe & Glow Seahorse is a design flaw that involves the battery coil, metal, wiring, and soldering inside the toy."

Despite at least 10 complaints being filed to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Fisher-Price refuses to issue a recall, asserting that the toy is safe. They have apparently made changes to the design - originally the toy required 3 batteries, now it only takes 2. Dr. Gao says that may help the problem, but the company should still recall the old models and replace them.


Now, onto the items that have been recalled:

Infantino Go Gaga Squeeze & Teethe Coco the Monkey

This monkey, sold exclusively at Target until January 2014, has been recalled because: "The tail of the monkey can pose a choking hazard to young children."

No injuries have been reported, though the company has received seven reports of infants choking or gagging on the monkey’s tail.

Britax B-Agile, B-Agile Double and BOB Motion strollers

These Britax strollers have been recalled because "The hinge on the stroller’s folding mechanism can partially amputate consumers’ fingertips, break their fingers or cause severe lacerations, among other injuries, when they press the release button while pulling on the release strap."

Britax has received eight incident reports. Incidents include one partial fingertip amputation, one broken finger and severe finger lacerations.

BebeLove Baby Walker

This walker, sold at small retail stores in Arizona, California and Utah and online at Amazon.com and Overstock.com until July 2013, has been recalled because: "Style number 358 can fit through a standard doorway and is not designed to stop at the edge of a step as required by the federal safety standard. This style also "contains leg openings that allow the child to slip down until the child’s head can become entrapped at the neck. Babies using these walkers can be seriously injured or killed."

No injuries or incidents have been reported.


Graco issued a voluntary recall on some car seat models as well. It is one of the biggest recalls ever, with Graco recalling 3.7 million car seats. (Fourth biggest recall of car seats ever).

The models they are recalling are "the Cozy Cline, Comfort Sport, Classic Ride 50, My Ride 65, My Ride 65 with Safety Surround, My Ride 70, Size4Me 70, My Size 70, Head Wise 70 and Smart Seat.

The harnessed booster seats that are part of the recall are the Nautilus 3-in-1, Nautilus Elite and Argos." There are seven models that Graco isn't recalling despite being asked to do so: "Snugride, Snugride 30, Snugride 32, Infant Safe Seat-Step 1, Snugride 35, Tuetonia 35, and Snugride Click Connect 40."

Not a very exciting post, I know, but hoping to just spread the word and make parents aware of these recent recalls!