The Consumer Product Safety Commission is issuing a new warning on playpens and high chairs.
Playpens
The Commission released a study that shows parents should keep quilts and pillows out of playpens.
Items like that could increase a child's risk of dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Infants can suffocate when soft bedding becomes molded around their faces.
The CPSC is launching a new campaign called "Sleep Safe, Play Safe." It will feature radio ads, posters and brochures to warn parents to be careful with cushions, extra mattresses or other plush bedding.
Since 1988, CPSC has
reports of more than 200 babies who died while in playpens.
In almost 100 of these deaths, soft bedding or improper or extra mattresses were present in the
playpen and the babies died of suffocation or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. More than 70 percent of these deaths were to babies less than 12 months old.
"Many parents and caregivers know the dangers of soft bedding in cribs," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "This study shows, for the first time, that the same
dangers exist when using pillows, quilts, and comforters in playpens."
High Chairs
Peg Perego USA is recalling about 325,000 high chairs, after receiving more than 50 reports of children getting trapped in them.
The kids' heads or arms can get stuck in a space between the armrest and backrest -- leading to injuries or suffocation.
The recalled chairs are the "Prima Pappa," "Roller" and "Martinelli Pappa and Nanna." You can find the model names on the footrest or seat back.
High chair models with nine-inch armrests aren't included in the recall.
The chairs were sold at stores including Babies "R" Us and Burlington Coat Factory from June 1996 through October 1999.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is advising consumers to stop using the high chairs immediately and to call Peg Perego for replacement armrests.
(Consumers can call 1-877-737-3464 to receive replacement armrests to correct the problem. If consumers have trouble getting through to that number they should call the safety commission at 1-800-638-2772.)
Link: CPSC
Preventing Playpen Deaths & Injuries
To prevent deaths or injuries to children in playpens, parents and caregivers should take these precautions:
- Before using a playpen, make sure it has not been recalled. Contact CPSC at 1-800-638-2772 or check the recalls section of CPSC's web site.
- Always put a baby down to sleep on his back in a playpen or crib with no soft bedding, such as quilts, comforters and pillows. This can help reduce the risk
of SIDS and prevent suffocation.
- Use only the mattress provided by the manufacturer. Do not add additional mattresses in playpens. Children can suffocate in the spaces formed between
mattresses or from ill-fitting mattresses.
- Check that the playpen is in good shape. Using a modified or improperly repaired unit can create hazards.
- Make sure the top rails of the units lock into place automatically. More than 1 million older playpens with top rails that had to be manually rotated into a
locked position have been recalled.
- Do not use playpens with catch points, such as protruding hardware. More than 9 million older units with protruding hardware have been recalled.
- If using a mesh-sided playpen, make sure the mesh is less than 1/4 inch in size and that it is attached securely. This will help prevent strangulation.
