Happy 2010 From The Baby Bodyguard’s Family!
I hope all of you had a wonderful and safe holiday season with your families. We at Baby Bodyguards wanted to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your continued support and shared passion for protecting the little ones in our lives.
We are thankful for all the wonderful families and adorable babies we have gotten to meet in 2009. We are also thankful and anxiously awaiting the arrival of our first baby girl due the end of April.
May 2010 bring all of us joy, good health , and success…
Cheers,
Courtney Ilarraza, and the rest of our team
Largest Crib Recall in History
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 23, 2009 Release # 10-046 |
Firm’s Recall Hotline: (877) 274-0277 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 HC Media Contact: (613) 957-2983 |
Infant Entrapment and Suffocation Prompts Stork Craft to Recall More Than 2.1 Million Drop-Side Cribs
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc., of British Columbia, Canada, today announced the voluntary recall of more than 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs, including about 147,000 Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. The recall involves approximately 1,213,000 units distributed in the United States and 968,000 units distributed in Canada.
CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs, wait for the free repair kit, and do not attempt to fix the cribs without the kit. They should find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side.
The cribs’ drop-side plastic hardware can break, deform, or parts can become missing. In addition, the drop-side can be installed upside-down, which can result in broken or disengaged plastic parts. All of these problems can cause the drop-side to detach in one or more corners. When the drop-side detaches, it creates space between the drop-side and the crib mattress. The bodies of infants and toddlers can become entrapped in the space which can lead to suffocation. Complete detachment of drop-sides can lead to falls from the crib.
CPSC, Health Canada, and Stork Craft are aware of 110 incidents of drop-side detachment; 67 incidents occurred in the United States and 43 in Canada. The incidents include 15 entrapments; 12 in the U.S. and three in Canada. Four of the entrapments resulted in suffocation: a 7-month-old in Gouverneur, N.Y.; a 7-month-old in New Iberia, La.; a 6-month-old in Summersville, W.Va.; and a 9-month-old in Bronx, N.Y. Included in these incidents are 20 falls from cribs; 12 in the U.S. and eight in Canada. Fall injuries ranged from concussion to bumps and bruises. The cribs involved in these incidents had plastic drop-side hardware that had broken, missing, or deformed claws, connectors, tracks, or flexible tab stops; loose or missing metal spring clips; stripped screws; and/or drop-sides installed upside-down.
This recall involves Stork Craft drop-side cribs and Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. This recall does not involve any cribs that do not have a drop-side. This recall does not involve any cribs with metal rod drop-side hardware. It involves only those cribs with plastic trigger and one-hand-system drop-side hardware.
This recall includes Stork Craft cribs with manufacturing and distribution dates between January 1993 and October 2009. This recall also includes Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo that have manufacturing dates between October 1997 and December 2004. The Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo were first sold in the U.S. in July 1998 and in Canada in September 1998. The cribs were sold in various styles and finishes. The manufacture date, model number, crib name, country of origin, and the firm’s name, address, and contact information are located on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board. The firm’s insignia “storkcraft baby” or “storkling” is inscribed on the drop-side teething rail of some cribs. In Stork Craft cribs that contain the “Fisher-Price” logo, this logo can be found on the crib’s teething rail, in the manufacturer’s instructions, on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board, and on the end panels of the Twinkle-Twinkle and Crystal crib models.
Major retailers in the United States and Canada sold the recalled cribs including BJ’s Wholesale Club, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Meijer, Sears, USA Baby, and Wal-Mart stores and online at Amazon.com, Babiesrus.com, Costco.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com from January 1993 through October 2009 for between $100 and $400.
The cribs were manufactured in Canada, China and Indonesia.
For additional information, contact Stork Craft toll-free at (877) 274-0277 anytime to order the free repair kit, or log on to www.storkcraft.com
Important Message from CPSC:
CPSC would like to remind 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 disengagement. Any disengagement can create a gap and entrap a child. In addition, do not try to repair any side of the crib, especially with tape, wire or rope.
Note: Health Canada’s press release can be seen at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=888
For more information on Crib Safety, visit CPSC’s Crib Information Center
DEET Poses Toxic Worry
Over the past few years there has been a lot of controversy over DEET and how safe it is. A new study conducted on mammals shows that DEET may be toxic to the Central Nervous System.
But French researchers, from the University of Angers and the Institute of Research and Development in Montpellier, say more investigations are needed to discover any potential neurotoxicity to humans.
The EPA said it was committed to addressing any urgent pesticide issues immediately to protect human health, but added: “The information we have related to DEET has been determined to be adequate to show that DEET does not pose any unreasonable risk.”
Click HERE for the full story.
Getting a New Dog Without Compromising Your Child’s Safety
It’s been about a month now since we adopted our new puppy. The process of finding the right dog for our family was one we did not take lightly. It took 3 trips to North Shore Animal League, and lots of research until we sealed the deal.
The last thing I wanted was a puppy that had to be trained, and was going to chew on our furniture and pee on our rugs, but that is exactly what we came home with. The last few weeks have been exhausting. There were so… many beautiful older dogs at North Shore, but on every cage they have a little info about the dog, and I couldn’t find a dog, where the information card stated that the dog would be good with children of ALL ages.
A dog’s temperment can have a lot to do with the way it was treated as a puppy. We didn’t want to chance getting an older dog and not knowing where the dog came from, how it was treated, etc. We figured training a puppy, as well as our 2.5 year old together would be the safest bet.
I want to recommend a great article I found on GrowingUpWithPets.com . This aricle gave us so much insight on choosing the right dog for us, as well as how to help teach our toddler the proper way to interact with our new family member.
Child-pet respect is a two-way street, and it certainly isn’t taught overnight. With a little time and effort, I am sure all our hard work is going to pay off. I hope….
Great Resource for Infant/Child CPR in NYC
Years ago, before we were certified in CPR, I was watching Runway Moms, a show about pregnant moms in NYC, and one of the moms on the show had a terrible experience, where her little girl fell off the family boat and into the water below. She was able to save her daughter’s life because she knew how to do CPR on the toddler.
Most of our clients have already taken an infant/child CPR class by the time they call us and if they haven’t, we highly recommend it.
One of the BEST places to learn infant/child CPR in NYC is Little Hearts CPR, run by Amy Gross. We took her class a few years back and she is one of the most knowledgeable safety professionals we have ever come across.
In her class, you will learn:
- Infant and Child CPR
- Relief of Foreign Body Airway Obstruction ( Choking )
- NYC Taxicab and Car Seat Guidelines
- Extensive Baby Safety Tips for use from Day 1 on
Classes are taught in Manhattan, several times a week, and once a month in Brooklyn. Amy, will also do private lessons, for a little bit more money.
Baby Bodyguards wants to stress again, how important it is to arm yourself and everyone who takes care of your child, with the lifesaving tools necessary in case of an emergency.
New Approach to Prenatal Supplements
Fred and I have started toying with the idea to add a new addition to our family. Unfortunately, I was plagued with terrible nausea from the day after conception till about 4 months in, and taking my prenatal vitamins felt like a cruel punishment to my already sensitive stomach. So I set out on a search to find a prenatal supplement that I could tolerate and would provide the necessary folic acid, omega-3 fish oils and vitamin D that are recommended by my OBGYN.
During my bout with morning sickness, the only way that I could get out of bed in the morning was to chew a ginger candy. Ginger does wonders for nausea! I came across a chewable prenatal supplement by Bloomen Nutrition, that tastes just like the ginger candy I used to chew and has all the essential nutrients to nourish a developing baby. A months supply costs $15, and you can order it online. They can also send you a free sample first to see if you like it. Trust me you will.
The Most Thoughtful Mother’s Day Gift
My husband asked me what I wanted for Mother’s Day today. The usual gifts crossed my mind, the spa gift certificate, a gift card to my favorite boutique, and coupons for a nap whenever I need a break. Thinking of the perfect Mother’s Day gift, made me think of the services we provide at Baby Bodyguards, and what a unique and thoughtful gift they make.
Giving a mom to be/mother/grandmother peace of mind by ensuring her precious bundle is safe really is the best gift I can think of. In honor of Mother’s Day, we are offering 10% off all our packages, when purchased for the special woman in your life.
Testing the Vision of Little Kids
suresight vision screener
The other day I took my 2 year old to the doctor for a well visit. We waited an hour for the doctor to come in , then my poor boy was poked and prodded for what seemed like days (he was crying from the minute we pulled up to the office). After numerous blood tests, and being held down to have his ears checked, the nurse told me to bring him to the back for an eye exam. I knew this was not going to happen. My son was screaming, and would not cooperate , so we got our coats on and left without his eyes being checked.
Last night on the news, I heard about The “Healthy Eyes for Kids” program. They provide free screenings to preschoolers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and identify kids who may have a higher risk for vision problems.
The machine they use to test for a possible vision problem, takes only 30 seconds to get a reading. They screening is not diagnostic, but it is a good indicator or a vision problem.
Most eye problems in children can be corrected if caught early, the task is trying to get a 2 or 3 year old to sit still, The “Healthy Eyes for Kids” program is making strides in providing early intervention.
For more info visit Preventblindness.org.
Manufacturers move to ban drop-side cribs
In the past few months, I have posted numerous times about recent crib recalls. Now, crib makers have proposed a ban on drop-side cribs after numerous recalls, injuies and infant deaths.
Michael Dwyer, executive director of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, an industry trade group, says the proposal put forward at a meeting Tuesday outside Philadelphia would allow for about a 6-inch (15-centimeter) top rail on one side that could fold down to let shorter people or those with back troubles more easily lift a baby.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says at least three U.S. children have died in drop-side cribs in the last 18 months and there have been five recalls involving more than 3 million cribs. The agency has received more than 200 complaints, including about 70 incidents where the drop-side came loose or off the tracks.
It is refreshing to see that the JPMA is taking steps to prevent further injuries, deaths and recalls.
Baby Bodyguards Writes About Nursery Safety for Momtrends
My friend Nicole is the founder of Momtrends, one of my favorite mommy blogs, it’s up on my favorites list with A Child Grows in Brooklyn, Hip Slope Mama and Safe Mama.
Momtrends is dedicating March to Creating the Perfect Nursery, and Baby Bodyguards, is thrilled to be able to contribute by compiling a list of nursery safety tips. Check them out here.
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