StrollerLife Blog

This came in just after I posted the last post about strollers and slings. CPSC has issued a warning to parents to be careful when using slings. Here’s the full report:

Infant Deaths Prompt CPSC Warning About Sling Carriers for Babies

WASHINGTON, D.C.- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is advising parents and caregivers to be cautious when using infant slings for babies younger than four months of age. In researching incident reports from the past 20 years, CPSC identified and is investigating at least 14 deaths associated with sling-style infant carriers, including three in 2009. Twelve of the deaths involved babies younger than four months of age.

Slings can pose two different types of suffocation hazards to babies. In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because of weak neck muscles. The sling’s fabric can press against an infant’s nose and mouth, blocking the baby’s breathing and rapidly suffocating a baby within a minute or two. Additionally, where a sling keeps the infant in a curled position bending the chin toward the chest, the airways can be restricted, limiting the oxygen supply. The baby will not be able to cry for help and can slowly suffocate.

Many of the babies who died in slings were either a low birth weight twin, were born prematurely, or had breathing issues such as a cold. Therefore, CPSC urges parents of preemies, twins, babies in fragile health and those with low weight to use extra care and consult their pediatricians about using slings.

Two months ago, the Commission added slings to the list of durable infant products that require a mandatory standard. Additionally, CPSC staff is actively investigating these products to determine what additional action may be appropriate. Until a mandatory standard is developed, CPSC is working with ASTM International to quickly complete an effective voluntary standard for infant sling carriers.

CPSC recommends that parents and caregivers make sure the infant’s face is not covered and is visible at all times to the sling’s wearer. If nursing the baby in a sling, change the baby’s position after feeding so the baby’s head is facing up and is clear of the sling and the mother’s body. Parents and caregivers should be vigilant about frequently checking their baby in a sling.

Today, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a major recall warning for Maclaren Strollers. About 1 million of these are affected. If you own a Maclaren Stroller, stop using it is what CPSC has said.This marks one of the biggest stroller recalls since the millennium.

The Problem: Apparently, the stroller’s hinge mechanism has caused 12 accidents involving children putting their fingers in the hinger mechanism and having their fingertips amputated.

What is recalled: The strollers that are recalled are as follows.

• Volo
• Triumph
• Quest Sport
• Quest Mod
• Techno XT
• Techno XLR
• Twin Triumph
• Twin Techno
• Easy Traveller

The Solution: Parents please contact Maclaren USA immediately at www.maclaren.us/recall or call them at 877-688-2326, Mon to Fri 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Eastern Time for a free repair kit.

For Canadians: There has been no news from Health Canada in regards to stroller recall in Canada. However, you can also contact Maclaren USA for the repair kit and they should have no problems sending it to you.

The CPSC has issued an immediate voluntary recall for about 22,500 Bugaboo Bee strollers after receiving 121 reports of the stroller’s brakes failing although there are no injuries reported so far.

The strollers have an item code 580210 on a label on the back of the seat and item code 50100 on a label on the plastic support under the seat.

If you have a Bugaboo Bee stroller, stop using it immediately and you can contact Bugaboo directly to get a free repair kit.

Here’s more information from CPSC:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09233.html

Here’s the link to the online form to get the repair kit from Bugaboo:

Link for Bugaboo Bee Stroller Brake Repair Kit