Musical Shaker Instrument Recalled by Woodstock Percussion Due to Laceration and Choking Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, 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. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of product: Gripper Shaker musical instrument

Units: About 9,400 in the U.S. and 700 in Canada

Importer: Woodstock Percussion Inc., of Shokan, N.Y.

Hazard: The handle can detach from the shaker, exposing a rough edge and posing a laceration hazard. The detached handle also exposes small steel pellets and a plastic plug which pose choking hazards.

Incidents/Injuries: The company received one report from a consumer that the handles on two Gripper Shakers detached. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The shakers are plastic musical instruments, 5.5 inches long, with rounded, egg-shaped tops containing steel pellets and open circular handles. They come in blue and green and are sold separately. The marking “B4” is printed on the rounded top of each shaker.

Sold at: Mail-order catalogs, websites and retail stores nationwide between August 2010 and March 2011 for about $5.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the product immediately and contact Woodstock Percussion Inc. to receive a $7 refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Woodstock Percussion, Inc. toll free at (866) 543-2848 anytime, via email at safety@chimes.com, or visit the website at www.woodstockpercussion.com

Kahn Enterprises Recalls Beeni Baby Hats Due to Asphyxiation Hazard

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Beeni Baby Hats

Units: About 35

Distributor: Kahn Enterprises LLC, Mendota Heights, Minn.

Hazard: A baby can spit up during use, posing an asphyxiation hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Description: The recalled baby hats are made of cotton and spandex. They have two straps sewn to the sides and a removeable plastic pacifier holder. The hat is available in sizes small, medium and large, and in pink, blue, green, flower print, blue stripe and blue print. Model number 125867 is on a tag sewn into the back inner rim of the cap.

Sold at: Beeni Baby’s website www.beeni.net from January 2009 through May 2011 for about $25.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the hats and contact Kahn Enterprises to receive a full refund. Kahn Enterprises will provide consumers with a postage paid label to return the product. The firm is directly contacting consumers who purchased the recalled baby hats.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, email Kahn Enterprises at info@beeni-kids.com, visit the firm’s website at www.beeni.net or call the firm collect at (612) 310-4053.

Kid O Products Recalls Wooden Puzzles Due to Choking 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. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Wooden fruit puzzles

Units: About 1,400 units

Importer: Kid O Products, LLC of Perth Amboy, N.J.

Hazard: The knobs attached to the puzzle fruits can come loose, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves wooden puzzles that consist of a board and four pieces representing an orange, a plum, a pear and an apple. Each piece of fruit has a wooden knob. The puzzle board measures 12 x 4.5 x ½ inches. “Grouping Objects – Fruit” and style number10307 can be found on the packaging.

Sold at: Specialty children’s stores nationwide from November 2010 through February 2011 for about $12.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled puzzles away from children and return them to the retail store where they purchased it for a full refund. Consumers can also contact Kid O Products for instructions on how to mail the product to receive a full refund.

For more information – CPSC

Second Infant Death Prompts Re-Announcement of Delta Enterprise “Safety Peg” Drop-Side Crib Recall to Repair.

Missing Safety Pegs Create Risk of Entrapment and Suffocation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Delta Enterprise Corp., of New York, N.Y. are re-announcing the 2008 recall of more than 985,000 drop-side cribs with “Crib Trigger Lock and Safety Peg” hardware. In January 2011, CPSC and Delta learned of a 2009 death in which 7-month-old girl from Colorado Springs, Colo. became entrapped and suffocated between the detached drop-side and mattress of her recalled crib. The crib was purchased secondhand and re-assembled without safety pegs in the bottom tracks.

Missing safety pegs can create a situation where the crib’s drop-side rail disengages from the track. This can create a hazardous space in which an infant can become entrapped and suffocate.

At the time of the October 2008 recall, CPSC notified consumers about the death of an 8-month-old girl who became entrapped and suffocated when the drop side of the crib detached. The crib involved in this incident also was re-assembled without safety pegs. At the time of the October 2008 recall announcement, there were reports of two entrapments and nine detachments in cribs without safety pegs.

“Buying or accepting cribs second hand can be risky,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “Second hand cribs may not come with all of the necessary parts that are needed to make sure your baby is safe. We urge parents and caregivers to use caution and to be aware that new rules established by CPSC will bring safer cribs to the market this summer.”

This re-announcement involves cribs that were made in Taiwan and Indonesia. The cribs were sold at major retail stores including Kmart, Target and Walmart between January 1995 and December 2005 (through September 2007 for model 4624) for about $100.

Delta’s name and address is printed on the mattress support boards and the Delta logo is on the crib’s top teether rail. Model numbers are located on the top of the mattress support board. This announcement includes the following 49 crib models with “Crib Trigger Lock with Safety Peg” drop-side hardware:

• 4320, 4340;
• 4500, 4520, 4530, 4532, 4540, 4542, 4550, 4551, 4580;
• 4600, 4620, 4624 – production dates 01/06 thru 11/07, 4640, 4660, 4720, 4735, 4742, 4750 – production dates 01/95 thru 12/00;
• 4760, 4770, 4780, 4790;
• 4820, 4840, 4850, 4860, 4880, 4890, 4892; and
• 4900, 4910, 4920, 4925-2, 4925-6, 4930, 4940, 4943, 4944, 4947, 4948, 4949, 4950, 4958, 4963, 4968, 4969, 4980.

CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using cribs that are missing a safety peg on either leg of the drop side and contact Delta to receive a free, easy-to-install repair kit. Call Delta toll-free at (800) 816-5304 anytime or visit the firm’s website at www.cribrecallcenter.com to order the free repair kit.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to find a safe, alternative sleep environment for their child until the repair kit, with new safety pegs, is safely installed on the recalled cribs.

Important Message from CPSC: CPSC reminds parents not to use any crib with missing, broken or loose parts. Make sure to tighten hardware from time to time to keep the crib sturdy. When using a drop-side crib, parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly. Always check all sides and corners of the crib for parts separating that can create a gap and entrap a child. In addition, do not try to repair any side of the crib. Babies have died in cribs where repairs were attempted by caregivers. Crib age is a factor in safety. At a minimum, CPSC staff recommends that you do not use a crib that is older than 10 years old. New, mandatory federal crib rules take effect on June 28, 2011. All cribs manufactured and sold after that date must meet new and improved safety requirements. Older cribs do not meet the new standard and can have a variety of safety problems. Check if your crib has been recalled at www.cpsc.gov

Kid O Products Recalls Baby Rattles Due To Choking Hazard

Name of Product: Baby rattles

Units: About 1,500 units

Importer: Kid O Products, LLC of Perth Amboy, N.J.

Hazard: The baby rattle’s beads can come off when the rattle is twisted or pulled forcefully, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Description: This recall involves the Prisma and Duo style wooden baby rattles with multi-colored beads. The Prisma rattle is shaped as a bell with a loop handle and has style number 10331. The rattle measures about 3 ¾- inches long. “Prisma” and the style number can be found on the packaging. The Duo rattle is two interlocked rings with red and blue bead accents. “Duo” and style number 10333 is printed on the packaging.

Kid O Baby Rattles are sold nationwide. They were sold for about $12 from November 2010 to December 2010. Immediate action should be taken by taking the ring away from the child and return them to the retail store where they purchased it for a full refund. Consumers can also contact the manufacture for instructions on how to mail the product to receive a full refund.

For More Information: CPSC

Teething Rings Recalled by Calisson Due to Ingestion Hazard

Name of Product: Cool-it Soother by Vulli

Units: About 7,000

Importer: Calisson Inc., of Dana Point, Calif.

Hazard: If the teething ring is punctured, bacteria and mold can grow inside the teether’s untreated liquid. This poses an ingestion hazard to infants and can lead to diarrhea and vomiting.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Description: The Cool-it Soother teething ring is clear and is attached to a green plastic handle in the shape of the character “Gnon.

The teething rings are sold nationwide and online. They were sold for about $10 from January 2008 to November 2010. Immediate action should be taken by taking the ring away from the child and return to the manufacture for a free replacement teething ring.

For More Information: CPSC

Toy Mobile Phones Recalled by Discovery Toys Due to Choking Hazard

Name of Product: Toddler Talk Toy Mobile Phones

Units: About 2,900 in the United States and 700 in Canada

Importer: Discovery Toys LLC, of Livermore, Calif.

Hazard: The clear plastic antenna can break off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: Discovery Toys has received reports of three incidents in which the toy telephone’s antenna broke off. A child was found mouthing the toy phone’s antenna but it was removed by his mother.

Description: This recall involves a red and blue plastic battery-operated toy mobile phone with a small, clear antenna, buttons numbered “1, 2, 3, 4 and Play,” a screen with a boy’s face and the words “hello! hola! bonjour!” Only model number 1231 is involved in this recall. The model number is printed on the toy’s packaging. “Discovery Toys” is stamped into the red plastic on the back of the toy.

Toy Mobile Phone are sold nationwide and online. They were sold for about $18 from September 2010 to November 2010. Immediate action should be taken by taking the phone away from the child and contract the manufacture for instructions on how to return them for a replacement toy.

For More Information: CPSC

Whether you are a first-time parent or “old hat”, like me, choosing great baby toys can be pretty hard. After all, your baby can’t yet express his preference for certain types of toys, colors, or characters. Plus, what makes him happy at two in the afternoon may invoke a screaming fit at four o’clock! So what is the key to a great selection of toys for your baby?

The answer is VARIETY!

Babies interact with the world using all five senses, not just their eyes. This is even more true for young infants than it is for older children and adults. Young babies cannot fully focus their eyes yet, and infants have trouble distinguishing some colors from others. (This is why first toys are often red, black, and white – the first colors a baby can see.) However, they are learning to explore their surroundings by much more than sight. A great baby toy can stimulate his sense of touch by using different textures, or it can help him learn sounds by offering music or sounds like crinkling paper or a bell. These are the easiest senses to work with in a baby – smell and taste come later, because you can’t ask a baby to smell a scratch-and-sniff book, and toys shouldn’t go in his mouth anyway!

The most important aspect of any baby toy is the chance it gives you and your baby to communicate with each other. After all, your baby wants your attention and love more than any toy on the planet, so choose toys that give you and your baby a lot of together time. Some examples are books and puppets for younger babies, and balls and shape sorters for older babies.

To see all of our great baby toys, go to our early learning category. We wish you and your baby continued happiness and fun-filled play time!

With the weather warming up and school about to come to a close, we’ve been looking at ideas on how to keep our family active and fit this summer. After reading 5 Practical Tips to Encourage Your Children to Get Into Fitness, I decided to get my ideas down in black-and-white, so I can refer back to these ideas when my memory and creativity take a vacation day. Hopefully you can use these ideas with your own children this summer as well.

1. The Swimming Pool – If you have frequent access to a swimming pool this summer, you have an easy way to entertain the kids and stay in shape at the same time. Practicing strokes and doing laps are great exercise, but even just a fun afternoon splashing around in the water gives you and your children opportunities to use muscles in different ways that you use them on land. Water games like Marco Polo and water volleyball also offer different ways to play at the pool. No pool? Try a sprinkler in the yard or a Slip N Slide, which gets kids outside but keeps them cool and refreshed. No matter what, don’t forget the sunscreen. And we have a great selection of Water and Sand Toys for play in the yard, at the pool, or at the beach.
2. Jumping Rope – A jump rope represents a great chance to improve both your cardiovascular health in your coordination skills. There are lots of different ways to jump rope, from one person with a single rope, to two people using the same (longer) rope, or three people where two turn the rope and a third jumps in the middle. Use two ropes for double-dutch jumping! Also, combining the basic jump with fancier skills such as hopping on one leg, handstands, and more will build additional skills and confidence. JumpRope.com offers great videos, teaching materials, and ropes. Plus we have our own adorable Carrot Jump Rope and, for a different twist, a Solo Chinese Jump Rope with stakes so it can be used by a single person.
3. Family Walks – Taking a walk with our family is one of my favorite ways to unwind after a long day. It’s a great alternative that gets the kids outside instead of watching a cartoon for 30 minutes. Our walk may be as simple as one-time-around-the-block, or on days when we have more time, we walk to one of the neighborhood parks and let the kids play on the playground before we walk home. Walking is easy on your joints, usually allows for easy conversation, and it a great way to get some fresh air, observe wildlife, and greet your neighbors.
4. Gardening – While caring for plants may not be as aerobically effective as the previous ideas, I love the way it combines nurturing, science, and activity. Plus, indoor container gardening is impervious to rainy days. Children learn the responsibility of caring for a living thing, and gardening offers opportunities to talk about plant parts, pollination, insects, and more. Consider planting a vegetable garden, which has the added benefit of providing healthy food that kids may be more interested in eating, since it represents the “fruits” of their own labor!
5. Family Yoga – Ever since we invested in a Wii Fit gaming system, the yoga exercises have been one of our kids’ favorite activities. We take turns using the balance board, but everyone can participate at the same time. It’s perfect for stretching tired muscles and calming down frazzled nerves (mine and the kids’!) So many of our activities involve shortening our muscles, so good stretching activities like yoga and Pilates help balance that by working to lengthen muscles. The focus on breathing is also great, particular in its calming effect.

I hope that these ideas will give you some inspiration to stay active over the summer break. If you have other good ideas, please share them in the comments!