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.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of more than three hundred thousand sets of Circo Rosette Bobbie Socks sold exclusively by Target, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, due to a potential choking hazard. The socks were sold in packs of six for about six dollars from January 2007 through July 2008.
The socks feature a ribbon which can detach and could be swallowed by a small child. Target has received four reports of the ribbons coming loose; thankfully, there have been no injuries. If you have any of these socks, take them away from your children and return them to the nearest Target for a full refund. For additional information, contact Target at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.target.com.
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 945,000 Bonne Bell Children's Cosmetics Accessory Bags. The metal clasps on the handle of the bags contain high levels of lead, which is toxic if ingested and can cause adverse health effects.
The recalled bags are plastic and have a zipper and a carrying handle. They are filled with an assortment of cosmetic products, which are not part of this recall. Photos of the recalled bags can be found here. The following model name and UPC numbers can be found on the hangtag of the recalled bags:
Made in China and imported by Bonne Bell Co., of Lakewood, Ohio, these were sold in retail stores nationwide and Bonne Bell's Web site from September 2007 through August 2008 for about $9 each.
If you have one of the recalled cosmetics bags, you should immediately take it away from your child and contact Bonne Bell for a replacement bag. You can reach them by calling (866) 288-8643 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, sending them an email at quality@bonnebell.com, 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.
We're accustomed to hearing about all the horrible things the internet is capable of: online predators, scam sites, viral downloads, cyberstalking, anonymous meanness. But what we don't hear very often is the incredible good that can happen when the people behind all those keyboards are inspired to act.
Stephanie Nielson is the fun kind of mother who does things like marking the start of a new school by preparing a company-worthy dinner complete with good china, fancy glassware, roses, and handmade tiara for her daughters. She's also the well-liked blogger behind Nie Nie Dialogues, where she records life with four young children and the husband she's clearly still smitten with.
On August 16th, Stephanie, along with her beloved husband Christian, and pilot instructor, Doug Kinneard, were in a plane crash. Kinneard died from his injuries, Christian has burns over 30% of his body, and Stephanie, better known as Nie Nie on the internet, remains in a chemically induced coma while being treated for the burns that cover 80% of her body.
While relatives take turns caring for the Nielson children, bloggers and internet sellers of all types have sprung into action to raise money to attempt to off-set what are sure to be staggering medical expenses. Generous and amazing crafters have donated wonderful items to benefit the Nielsons, while others have used their computer skills to organize and list everything in a wonderfully organized manner.
It's not too early to think about that Christmas list, or upcoming baby arrivals or birthdays. Knowing that the money spent will help a family in need makes any gift purchased from a Nie Nie auction twice as wonderful and that's just not a feeling one gets from an Amazon.com purchase.
It's really wonderful to see the goodness pouring out of the internet in response to such a tragic event.
Update: Current auctions are now marked in red and say "Live", so there are still some great items available. Or if you'd like to make a donation, a gift of any increment can be made directly to their paypal account here:
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.
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.
If you have a box of Pepperoni Hot Pockets in your freezer, you might want to pull it out and have a look at the box. Some packages of the frozen pizza snacks may contain 'foreign objects', which are most certainly not edible and potentially dangerous.
Nestle Prepared Foods Company has received complaints from four consumers who found hard red plastic pieces as well as some clear flexible rubber stuff in their Hot Pockets Pepperoni Pizzas. Roz O'Hearn, a spokesperson for Nestle, says they suspect these pieces might have splintered off from a testing device and become buried inside the product. Some of the pieces may have sharp edges and pose a risk of serious injury should you end up with one in your mouth.
In response, Nestle is recalling about 215,660 pounds of Hot Pockets Pepperoni Pizzas packaged in the 54-ounce, 12-pack cartons. Printed on the side of each carton is "8157544614D," "EST 7721A," and "BEST BEFORE JAN2010." These were produced on June 5 and distributed to retail establishments nationwide.
For more information, call Nestle at 800-350-5016.
Haute mamas to be watch out: Christian Siriano is launching a line of maternity wear! The Project Runway winner is set to unveil the line for mamas to be in Spring 2009. Pity I won't be pregnant anymore (I hope) although it may be reason enough to get knocked up if you've been considering it. Chances are, if you are pregnant and you buy Siriano's stuff, you'll look glam.
Siriano and two of his fashion buddies, Marta Abrams and Elise Rosemarin, collaborated on the line. Abrams and Rosemarin head up Moody Mama maternity wear. The collection, much like Mr. Siriano, is being called Fierce (for Moody Mama).
Funny enough, a rep for Moody Mama says Siriano joined up because he thought it would be good if a gay man and two women who'd never had children designed maternity wear together. What do you think--is it important for the designer of preggo-wear to have been preggo herself, or does it matter? I doubt Bill Blass spent a lot of time in evening gowns, but what they hey do I know. I'm sure the line from Siriano will be stunning to say the least--in looks, anyway (no word on the price).
Need some pencils for the new school year? How about a ruler? If you've got a cent, you can get them -- at Staples and OfficeMax, respectively, in some areas. Target regularly offers school supplies for next to nothing in the weeks leading up to the start of the school year. (Wanna meet a teacher? Hit Target at 8am on a Sunday in August -- they'll be there stocking up on pencil boxes, crayons, and -- literally -- hundreds of folders for their classrooms.)
As the economy nose dives, parents aren't rushing out to buy brand new supplies when last year's zizzors (as my daughter calls them) work just fine. Retailers are running scared and are offering lots of "loss leaders" -- items priced below their cost -- to get shoppers in the door. This is nothing new, of course -- it happens every year -- but this year retailers are dropping prices even more than usual, even to the point of offering products for free.
Naturally, the stores are hoping you'll buy other, more profitable items while you're there and that's usually the case. Still, if your kid's backpack still holds books and their binders still hold paper, do you really need new ones? Are you buying all new supplies or making do with what you have as much as possible?
Not satisfied with just putting lead paint on our children's playthings, Chinese manufacturers are now putting the toxic stuff in their clothes. Well, at least one manufacturer is, and for that reason the Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 600 Sun Smarties Board Skirts. The lead paint is in the grommets.
The skirts are peach microfiber with an embroidered flower accent and back pocket. You can find Item Number 13926 HIBI printed on the care label inside the back of the waistband. The skirts were sold in girls sizes 12 months to 4T. They have six grommets, four on the front of the waistband and two on the back pocket.
As mentioned, these were made in China for Chelsea & Scott Ltd. and sold exclusively at One Step Ahead from May 1, 2008 through May 9, 2008 for about $15 each.
If you have one of these skirts, you should immediately take it away from your child and return it to Chelsea & Scott Ltd to receive a replacement skirt or refund. You will be sent a postage paid envelope from the company.
For more information, contact Chelsea & Scott Ltd by calling (866) 271-4536 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, visit their Web site, or email them at customerservice@onestepahead.com.
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 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of more than three hundred thousand sets of Circo Rosette Bobbie Socks sold exclusively by Target, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, due to a potential choking hazard. The socks were sold in packs of six for about six dollars from January 2007 through July 2008.
We're accustomed to hearing about all the horrible things the internet is capable of: online predators, scam sites, viral downloads, cyberstalking, anonymous meanness. But what we don't hear very often is the incredible good that can happen when the people behind all those keyboards are inspired to act.
This product recall is a little different than others in that it isn't actually a product recall. According to the 
If you have a box of Pepperoni Hot Pockets in your freezer, you might want to pull it out and have a look at the box. Some packages of the frozen pizza snacks 
Need some pencils for the new school year? How about a ruler? If you've got a cent, you can get them -- at Staples and OfficeMax, respectively, in some areas. Target regularly offers school supplies for next to nothing in the weeks leading up to the start of the school year. (Wanna meet a teacher? Hit Target at 8am on a Sunday in August -- they'll be there stocking up on pencil boxes, crayons, and -- literally -- hundreds of folders for their classrooms.)
Not satisfied with just putting lead paint on our children's playthings, Chinese manufacturers are now putting the toxic stuff in their clothes. Well, at least one manufacturer is, and for that reason the 
