The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced over the weekend that Britax, the manufacturer of children's car seats, strollers and child and infant restraint systems, will recall approximately 14,220 Chaperone infant and child restraint systems.

The Chaperone Infant and Child Restraint Systems manufactured from September 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011 are being recalled because the harness adjuster can detach from the seat. In the event of a crash, the defective harness adjuster could cause serious or fatal injury to a child or infant as the child would not be properly restrained.

According to the NHTSA, the car restraint systems affected by this recall display the model numbers: E9L692J (black/silver), E9L692K (red), E9L692L ("cowmooflage") and E9L692M (green). The manufacture date and model number are also shown on a label on the car seat.　

The company, Britax, will notify owners of the restraint systems and provide free repair kits which owners can install. The recall and mailing of repair kits are expected to begin on or about February 6, 2012. Until February 6, any car seats from which the harness adjuster has become detached will be replaced by Britax. Consumers can locate the harness adjuster at the base of the car seat. Consumers may contact Britax by calling

1-888-427-4829 or visiting the company's website at http://www.britaxusa.com.

For more information on this particular recall, consumers also may want to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236. (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or visit http://www.safercar.gov. When discussing this particular recall with the NHTSA, consumers will want to reference campaign number 12C001000.

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There are some children's toys which could give parents and children a headache--like the Super Luchamania Action Figures. They were made in Mexico and the surface paint on them contains an excessive amount of lead violating the federal standards for lead paint in children's toys.

Approximately 7,000 packs of the Super Luchamania Action Figures, which were sold in packs of 12, are being recalled, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced yesterday, in cooperation with importer, Lee Carter Company of San Francisco, California.

Why is excessive lead in surface paint on toys dangerous to children? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Basic Information on Lead in Paint, Dust and Soil, lead can be absorbed by a child's body more readily than an adult's. As we know, babies and young children often put toys in their mouths. Some painted toys can even have lead dust on them. Children's brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. If not detected, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from different maladies including damage to the brain and nervous system, behavior and learning problems, such as hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, and headaches, to name only a few. http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htm#health.

Please take a look in your children's toy box to check whether these toys are there. The multi-colored Super Luchamania male action figures are made of plastic, have various colored plastic capes and measure about four inches tall. "Super Luchamania" is printed on the action figures' package. The packs of 12 action figures were sold by Mexican specialty craft stores throughout the United States from June 2000 through October 2011 for between $12 and $14 per pack.

Parents and caregivers should remove the action figures from children's access and return them to Lee Carter Company for a full refund or credit toward another Lee Carter product. Consumers may contact Lee Carter Co. by calling collect at 1(415) 824-2004 anytime, or visiting the firm's website at www.leecartercompany.com.

To view a photo of the Super Luchamania Action Figures, please visit the CPSC website at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12092.html.

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By Marianne Frederick

Yesterday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the Lee Carter Co., of San Francisco, California, announced a recall of 25,000 infant rattles. The hazard is that the handle of the baby rattles violates the federal standard for toy rattles; it can fit into the throat of a child and cause choking.

The rattles were manufactured in Mexico and imported to the U.S. by Lee Carter Co. The rattles are made of colorful, woven plastic and contain a bell. The rattles are approximately 4-1/2 inches in length. A tag attached to a purple plastic loop at the end of the rattle's handle has the words, "Made in Mexico" and "Lee Carter Company" printed on it.

The rattles would have been purchased at various Mexican specialty craft stores throughout the U.S. from February 2001 through October 2011 for about $4.

Parents and caregivers should immediately take the rattle from infants and children and either dispose of them or return them to Lee Carter Co. for a full refund or credit towards a replacement product. For more information, consumers can call Lee Carter Co. collect at 1(415) 824-2004 anytime, or visit the firm's website at www.leecartercompany.com

To view a photo of the toy rattle being recalled, please visit the CPSC website at:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12093.html.

Because the CPSC continues to be interested in hearing about any adverse experience with this toy rattle, consumers may report a negative experience to the CPSC on www.saferproducts.gov.

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in conjunction with the company Bugaboo Americas of El Segundo, California is recalling 64,000 child car seat adapters.

The hazard involved with this particular car seat adapter is when it is used on a stroller with a wheeled board accessory for transporting a standing toddler, and the car seat is positioned so the child faces forward, the car seat can disconnect from the adapter and fall. Bugaboo has received one report when the car seat disconnected from the adapter and stroller frame, causing a minor injury to a child.

Car seat adapter models 80400GC01 and 80401GC02 are involved in this recall. Car seat adapters are fabricated so that they attach car seats to the corresponding stroller frames. They are made of silver-colored aluminum tubing with black plastic connecting parts.

The car seat adapters were sold at Babies "R" Us, Buy Buy Baby, Neiman Marcus, and other retail and independent juvenile stores, by Bugaboo.com and other online retailers from December 2005 to July 2011 for approximately $45. It probably comes as no surprise to our readers that these car seat adapters were made in China.

Parents and caregivers should stop using these adapters and contact Bugaboo for a free service kit and decals. For more information, consumers may contact Bugaboo at serviceus@bugaboo.com or (800) 460-2922 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.bugaboo.com.

To view a photo of the adapter being recalled, please visit the CPSC website at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12067.html.

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by Marianne Frederick

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Bugaboo Americas of El Segundo, California, have issued a joint voluntary recall of approximately 7,260 Bugaboo Bee Children's Strollers, due to a fall hazard to children.

The swivel wheels on the front of the Bugaboo Bee Stroller can lock while it is in motion, and the stroller can tip and cause a child to fall from it. Four incidents of tipping with a child in the stroller have been reported, resulting in minor injuries to children in two of the incidents.

The Bugaboo Bee Strollers were primarily designed for infants and children weighing up to 37 pounds. The strollers have silver or black metal frames, seats in black or denim colors, and canopies of various solid and printed colors. A label can be located under the seat, with an abbreviated production date code on it, as well as the name Bugaboo Bee and the company's address. Production dates of these strollers range from January 2011 through September 2011.

The Bugaboo Bee Strollers were sold by Toys R Us and baby product stores throughout the U.S. and Canada, and online from Bugaboo.com. The strollers could be purchased for about $650. They were manufactured in China and imported to the U.S. by Bugaboo Americas.

Parents and caregivers should stop using the strollers for children and contact the company, Bugaboo Americas, or the store where the stroller was purchased to arrange to receive a set of replacement swivel wheels. The company, Bugaboo Americas, can be reached by email at serviceus@bugaboo.com or by phone on 1(800) 460-2922 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. pacific time, Monday through Friday, or by visiting the company's website at http://www.bugaboo.com/non-swiveling-wheels.

For photos of the Bugaboo Strollers being recalled, please visit the CPSC website at:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12066.html.

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By Marianne Frederick

On January 12, 2012, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in cooperation with Thule Child Transport Systems Ltd., d/b/a Chariot Carriers, of Calgary, Canada, announced a recall of approximately 44,000 bicycle trailers and 70,000 bicycle trailer conversion kits due to reports of incidents and injuries received. The CPSC and the company received 24 reports of the bicycle trailer's hitch mechanisms cracking and breaking, causing the trailer to detach from the bicycle. Three of the incidents occurred in the United States.

Consumers should stop using the bicycle trailers and conversion kits and not transport children in the trailers. Consumers can　contact the company for a free repair kit which the consumer can install. Chariot Carriers can be reached at (800) 262-8651 between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.　Eastern Time,　Monday through Friday, or consumers may visit the firm's website at www.chariotcarriers.com.

To view photos of the bicycle trailers and conversion kits being recalled, please visit the CPSC website at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12085.html.

Wherever it occurs, child abuse is wrong. Wherever it occurs, victimization of children is wrong. We have heard a lot in the news in the past year about victimization of kids--from the Casey Anthony trial and on. From time to time, we offer suggestions that we hope help parents keep kids safer. At one time, we were taught the phrase, "stranger danger," but Ernie Allen, CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says it isn't necessarily strangers who are the biggest danger to kids.

Allen has some comments and cautions for parents* and those of us who are guardians of children. Allen says that people who victimize kids are rarely strangers. "The offenders do not match society's stereotype," he says. "Most Americans want to believe that someone who would prey upon a child...is evil-looking, a menacing, frightening stranger." Yet, most of the time those who victimize children are not strangers to the child, they are known to the child and seek out legitimate access to a child. Because of this fact, it is important that leading children-serving organizations do background screening of their staff and volunteers, and monitor and supervise interactions between adults and children.

Child victims rarely tell on the person who victimizes them. Research shows that at least 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be victimized in some way before they reach the age of 18, and just 1 in 3 will tell anyone about it. Allen says, "These are America's hidden victims. We have made progress as a nation in attacking this problem but even today, two out of three child victims suffer in silence. They don't tell Mom, they don't tell Dad, they don't tell anybody."

"Second, the first line of defense is a vigilant public. If you see it, know about it or suspect it, report it. Call your local police and then call 1 (800) THE LOST or report it towww.cybertipline.com, at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children."

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has helped bring thousands of kids home safely. Childsafetyblog.org is grateful　to the　National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for all they do.

By Marianne Frederick

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*Allen, Ernie, CEO, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, "Those Who Victimize Children Are Usually Not Strangers" Commentary,　12/09/11.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and Target Corporation of Minneapolis, Minnesota, are recalling 139,000 Circo 17" Children's Travel Cases due to violation of the federal lead paint standard.

Followers of Childsafetyblog.org may have read about recent lead paint violations causing some children's furniture painted with lead paint that exceeded the federal lead paint standards to be recalled. This particular recall involves Girls' and Boys' 17" Travel Cases that are coated with excessive amounts of lead.

The Girls' 17" Travel Case has the pattern of hearts, butterflies and daisies against a pink or teal background with a plush butterfly toy attached to the zipper pull. The Girls' travel case has a UPC number of 618842135844. The Boys' 17" Travel Case has a pattern with jet planes against a red or blue airplane background with a blue plush jet plane attached to the zipper pull. The Boys' travel case has a UPC number of 618842135868. On both versions, the Circo brand label can be located on the handle on the top of the travel case. The UPC code can be found on the round Circo hangtags. Date codes beginning with 01/11 thru 08/11 can be located on a second white tag sewn inside the cover of the zippered main compartment of the travel case.

These travel cases were manufactured in China, imported and sold by Target stores throughout the U.S. and online from April 2011 through August 2011, for approximately $21. Consumers should remove the travel cases from children's access and return them to any Target store for a refund. Consumers can contact Target at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.target.com for additional information or instructions.

To view photos of the travel cases being recalled, please visit, the CPSC website at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12064.html?tab=recalls. The CPSC would like us to remind parents and other consumers that under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or resell this or any other recalled product.

by Marianne Frederick

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Last week, in cooperation with IKEA North America Services, LLC, of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled 169,000 children's high chairs because "the high chair's restraint buckle can open unexpectedly, posing a fall hazard to the child." IKEA has received eight reports of the buckle opening unexpectedly and three reports of "minor injuries" to children due to their falling from the Antilop high chair.

The high chair was sold nationwide by IKEA for several years from August 2006 through January 2010, for about $20 and came in different colors, red, blue and white, and had detachable metal legs. Model numbers affected by this recall include: 701.467.92 (blue), 501.467.93 (red), and 300.697.24 (white). These high chairs were manufactured in China between June 2006 and November 2009 from supplier number 17389. The production date (in the Year/Month format) and supplier number are molded into the underside of the seat.

Consumers should immediately stop using these high chairs and contact IKEA to obtain a free replacement seat restraint. Consumers may contact IKEA toll-free for repair instructions at (866) 966-4532 anytime, or visit the firm's website at www.ikea-usa.com. For photos of the recalled high chair, please visit the CPSC website at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12079.html.

Granted, the price of the high chair is affordable for most families with young children, and IKEA does have a reputation for selling reliable furniture. And, IKEA is making good on providing consumers a new seat restraint. But perhaps it's time for American consumers to ask, do we really want to continue risking our children's safety on imported Chinese products? And, Why are these products getting to the marketplace and remaining for such a long time before incident reports are made known? We need to be scrutinizing Chinese imports for safety, quality and fitness for use. Our future, our children's future, may depend upon it!

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