Optave Inc., of Alpena, Michigan, in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, is voluntarily recalling their Action Baby Carriers. The chest strap on the carriers can come loose from the shoulder straps, potentially allowing the baby to fall. Such a "feature" would seem to be counter-productive to the product's intended purpose. Luckily, there have been no injuries reported.
The carriers affected by this recall were sold in various colors and patterns, and were available under the "Action Baby Carrier" brand name in retail stores across the country and on the internet in May and June of this year, for $80 to $90. If you have one of these carriers, do not use it in a position that requires the use of the chest straps. Instead, contact Optave for a free set of replacement straps. For more information, contact Optave Inc. at toll-free (866) 208-0269 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site.
Wipes. Once you have a child, it seems impossible to get away from using them. They're everywhere and made to use for everything baby related. And there are so many different kinds to choose from, you find yourself sampling until you find the "right" wipe for your family. Some prefer the all-natural variety, some prefer antibacterial. Others prefer the sensitive skin version, and some just go for whatever is cheapest. Heck, you can even make your own baby wipes at home.
But, are wipes all they're cracked up to be? Are they really safe for all the uses for which they are available? I use them to wipe up during a diaper change. And I use them to wipe my hands. And I use them to wipe down the table after my son has his meal. And I've been known on occasion to use them to wipe his face after said meal. I've used them to wipe his nose instead of traditional tissues because they keep the skin on his nose from drying out.
My husband came home from Costco with a box of 700 wipes. Yes, 700. And all for the low cost of like $17. But are they good for the environment? Do they disintegrate or pile up in a landfill somewhere like everything else? Is it worth it for the convenience? And what about the organic versions versus the regular kind? Is there any real advantage to using chlorine-free wipes as opposed to generic ones? So many questions, so many wipes. They're invaluable when it comes to diaper changing duties, but other than that are they really worth it? I come from the cloth napkin world where little is thrown away or not reused, but I love the cleanliness and simplicity of the wipe. Is there any middle ground?
What is your favorite type of wipe, or have you found a way to get things (and your kids) clean without them?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 118,000 wooden puzzles, infant rattles, pacifier holders and stroller toys made by Habermaass Corp., of Skaneateles, N.Y. Small pieces on the toys, including glued on mirrors and/or prisms can detach and pose a choking hazard to infants. The head of the ladybug puzzle pieces pose a choking hazard as well. Habermaass has received 15 reports of incidents in which detached pieces ended up in the mouths of young children.
The recalled items are pictured and described in detail in a chart that can be found here. They were made in Germany and sold at specialty toy stores nationwide and at specialty online retailers from January 2002 through August 2008 for between $10 and $35.
If you have one of the recalled items, you should immediately take it away from your child and contact Habermaass to receive a free replacement product or a full refund. You can reach them by calling (800) 468-6873 ext. 107 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or by visiting their Web site.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 44,000 Phil & Teds e3 Single Buggy, e3 Twin Buggy and sport v1 Single Buggy Strollers due to a laceration hazard. The manufacturer has received nine reports from consumers who have cut their fingers on the hinge locking mechanism when folding or unfolding the stroller. In May of 2006, 425 e3 Twin Buggy Strollers were also recalled.
Made in China and imported by Regal Lager Inc., of Kennesaw, Ga., the strollers were sold at baby furniture and baby products stores nationwide from August 2003 through August 2008 for between $400 and $650 each.
The single strollers have metal frames with three wheels, a cloth seat and canopy. The twin strollers have a metal frame with four wheels, side-by-side cloth seats and double sun canopies. They were sold in various colors including red, orange, green, black, charcoal and navy. The Phil & Teds logo is located on the crotch piece of the harness.
If you have one of the recalled strollers, you should stop using it immediately and contact Regal Lager to obtain a free hinge cover repair kit and instructions. You can reach them by calling (877) 242-5676 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or by visiting their Web site.
Some people claim that cloth diapers are safest for babies, but there's one family in Brazil that thinks a disposable diaper can be a lifesaver -- literally. Eighteen-month-old Caua Felipe Massaneiro fell thirty feet from a window in his family's third floor apartment and lived to talk about it thanks to his diaper.
The boy fell but instead of hitting the ground directly, his diaper got caught on a security spike embedded in the concrete wall that surrounds his apartment building. Caua hung there for a moment and then "the diaper opened and the baby fell to the ground, but at a much slower speed," said one police officer. "The diaper obviously lessened the impact of the fall and saved the baby's life."
Caua was taken to the hospital to be treated for minor fractures, but is doing well and is in stable condition. It is unclear at this time whether or not the diaper was in need of changing.
This product recall is a little different than others in that it isn't actually a product recall. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible "close-sleeper/bedside sleeper" bassinets do not meet the safety standards regarding spacing of the metal bars and pose an entrapment and strangulation hazard to infants. The products would be recalled, but SFCA Inc., the company which purchased all of Simplicity, Inc.'s assets at public auction in April, 2008, refuses to recall them. SFCA claims they are not responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity.
Clearly somebody needs to be responsible for the products because according to the CPSC, two infants have already strangled to death between the bassinet's metal bars - a 5-month old girl earlier this month and a 4-month-old girl in September of 2007. Since SFCA won't recall them, the CPSC is issuing a warning and urging all consumers to share this warning with day care centers, consignment stores, family and friends to ensure no more children are injured or killed sleeping in this bassinet.
The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets have metal bars spaced farther apart than the 2 3/8 inches maximum allowed by federal crib safety standards. The metal bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by Velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the Velcro is not properly re-secured when the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrapped in the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar.
Do you read parenting books? For real, as in from cover to cover? Did you get anything at all out of the book? Was it overall a great buy with an excellent philosophy, or was there at least one nugget of sage advice that has helped you shape your parenting style? If the answer to that last question was yes, then perhaps parenting books are good for you. For others, not so much.
I remember when I first started writing for ParentDish--way back in the Blogging Baby days. I was pregnant and trying to figure out if I had what it took to be a parent. I bought oodles of parenting books and tried to plow through them as best as I could. I found lots of conflicting information, some of it outdated. I had lots of conversations with other parents and got more of the same. I even asked them what parenting books they recommended. Some loved certain books, some hated said books. One such book was "What to Expect when You're Expecting." I wrote a post about that and got innumerable comments of both praise and abhorring. So it is with any sort of parenting advice.
Once you become a parent, generally all the things you were so scared of dissipate. You become more confident in your decision making and parenting abilities. Most of the time, you actually become a better wife, daughter, friend, sister, etc. in the process. Did the parenting books help? Maybe, maybe not. Being a parent did. The things we all fear--that we'll be bad parents, that we'll hurt our children, that they'll be taken from us through our own negligence--seem to go away the more we actually practice parenting. And that means whatever parenting style comes most naturally to us or works out best for us. And it is different for every person. I don't think it really matters how much attention you paid to WTEWYE--you're probably doing OK in the mommy or daddy department. Parenting books, if you actually have time to read them (see: before children) might offer some insight, but only you will be able to determine the right approach to raising your kids.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 10,000 Taggies Strollin' Along Stroller Activity Bars due to a choking hazard. The importer has received three reports of the shiny material on the ear of the elephant detaching and children putting it in their mouths. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
Made in Hong Kong and imported by International Playthings Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., the activity bars were sold in specialty stores nationwide and online from February 2007 through July 2008 for about $23 each.
The recall involves multicolored, fabric and plastic stroller activity bars featuring a yellow giraffe, a purple hippo and a blue elephant attached to a 12" long elliptical base with straps that attach to a stroller. The Taggies and Earlyears® logo labels can be found sewn into the seam on the lower left front of the activity bar.
If you have one of these stroller bars, you should immediately stop using it and contact International Playthings for a free replacement toy. You can reach them by calling (800) 445-8347 or by visiting their Web site.
Who knew that former party girl Nicole Richie was such a giving and charitable person? I think that the way she has turned her life around and started giving back to those less fortunate is wonderful and I applaud her efforts. And apparently she has only just begun helping children - here and around the world.
Through the Richie-Madden Children's Foundation, Nicole is launching an online gift registry that will help needy mothers and their children. Families in need can sign up through local social service agencies and submit a list of the things they need for their children. Asked-for items could include cribs, blankets and other essentials. Donors could then look at the registry and choose what they want to contribute. Initially, the registry will benefit families in New York and Los Angeles, but the hope is to take it nationally and then internationally.
I think this is fantastic idea and love the idea of being able to choose a family to give to and personally pick out what they receive. Way to go Nicole!
Forget the newborn swaddles and wipe warmers. We're talking about rambunctious, opinionated, high-energy toddlers! It seems from your responses (or lack thereof) that most toddlers are like mine - more interested in a wooden spoon or stick in the yard than any shiny new product.
However, take a look at a few toddler essentials we drummed up.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 19,000 Bright Starts Infant Rattles. The tip of the rattle's antenna (attached to a bee figure) can detach and pose a choking hazard to small children. The distributor of this rattle, Kids II, Inc., has received two reports of this happening, including one where the tip of the antenna ended up in a baby's mouth. No injuries have been reported.
The recalled rattle is a soft bee with a yellow head, ring-shaped green body and blue/green wings with purple/red antennas. You can find the model number 8534 and date code PA8 printed on a sewn-in label on the bee's head.
These were made in China and sold at toy stores, mass merchandisers, and other retail stores nationwide from January 2008 through June 2008 for about $2-3 each.
If you have one of these rattles, you should immediately take it away from your child and contact Kids II to receive a free replacement rattle. You can reach them by calling (877) 325-7056 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or by visiting their Web site.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 115,000 It's My Binky Personalized Pacifiers. The pacifier can come apart and pose a choking hazard to infants. No injuries have been reported, but the company has received two reports of this happening.
Made in Malaysia for It's My Binky of Henderson, Nevada, the pacifiers were sold at Nordstrom and baby boutique retail stores nationwide and online from February 2006 through June 2008 for between $5 and $6.
The recalled pacifiers have the word "Japlo" imprinted on the front of the pacifier shield at the bottom center. They were sold in blue, white and pink with various words or designs printed on the button of the pacifier. Photos showing examples of some of the text and symbols on the recalled pacifiers can be found here.
If you have one of these pacifiers, you should immediately take it away from your child and return it to the store where purchased or contact It's My Binky to receive a free replacement pacifier. You can reach It's My Binky by calling (888) 689-9444 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday PT or by visiting their Website. You can also email Danielle Riiber at Danielle@itsmybinky.com.
It's time for another installment of ParentPicks, a veritable gold mine of parental wisdom. Our sneaking suspicions were right - you DO have some fantastic baby picks up your sleeve!
Well, let's keep the good ideas flowing. This month's ParentPicks feature will be focused on the darling, yet obstinate toddler stage. Personally, I have been thrown blindly into the Terrible Two's Ring of Fire during the past month. (HOLD ME.) The only item that elicits a guaranteed smile from my outdoorsy dictator is his Kettler tricycle.
What about you, though? What product or item could you not live without during the toddler years? Your insightful responses will be compiled and presented in August for everyone to enjoy. Now, get to it! Parents all over the world will thank you!
A recent letter from the Vice President of Communications at Nike, which was perhaps inappropriately shared, has controversy brewing. Apparently, one Amanda Miller contacted one New York Times writer Joe Nocera in an attempt to pitch him some sort of stroller. Nike Communications is a public relations firm that sells expensive stuff. Joe, and everyone else who responded in the comments section of his blog about the letter, was offended, or at least annoyed. You see, Ms. Miller referred to children as accessories. This is nothing new--people have worn their babies since, well, since they've been having them. What we carry them in, as opposed to on us, has changed, but little else.
Oh, perhaps there was a time not so long ago when women didn't really leave the house and therefore, when with child (in or out of the womb) they didn't leave either, which meant no one really saw much of children until they were working age. But now, all that has changed. Now celebrities can be seen with their spawn doing whatever it is they do when they're not busy making the millions required to purchase the kind of stroller Ms. Miller is suggesting to the tune of $1,000.
Celebrities procreate--many of them doing so two at a time--and then they show them off to the world. The question is no longer what those celebrity moms are wearing, but what their babies are IN. That's right--out with Halston, and in with the Phil & Ted's chic stroller, and their new Traveller, which is actually just a playpen. Clearly Ms. Miller should be fired. Not for attempting to sell people stuff they don't need at a ridiculous price--after all, it's a PR firm, that's what they get paid to do!--but because Joe Nocera is clearly not her target audience. I can think about at least ten people, all of them women, who would eat up the letter from Ms. Miller and barely wash it down with an iced decaf skim latte before immediately setting out to purchase one. Did I mention I live in New York City? Joe Nocera? Clearly not interested.
Optave Inc., of Alpena, Michigan, in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, is voluntarily recalling their Action Baby Carriers. The chest strap on the carriers can come loose from the shoulder straps, potentially allowing the baby to fall. Such a "feature" would seem to be counter-productive to the product's intended purpose. Luckily, there have been no injuries reported. 
This product recall is a little different than others in that it isn't actually a product recall. According to the 
Who knew that former party girl Nicole Richie was such a giving and charitable person? I think that the way she has turned her life around and started giving back to those less fortunate is wonderful and I applaud her efforts. And apparently she has only just begun helping children - here and around the world.
The 
It's time for another installment of ParentPicks, a veritable gold mine of parental wisdom. Our sneaking suspicions were right - you DO have some 
