A Kolcraft Play Yard has been blamed for the death of a 10-month-old boy, prompting the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to order a recall of 425,000 other defective play yards. The CPSC says that a restraint strap on the changing-table portion of the play yards poses a strangulation hazard to babies.
A dozen different Kolcraft play yards are included in this recall. The defective play yards were sold at retail stores across the country between January 2001 and September 2007, and ranged in price from $50 to $130. The recalled Kolcraft play yards can be identified by their model number that is printed on a white sticker located on one of the feet of the play yard.
Included in the recall are four varieties of the Kolcraft Travelin’ Tots Play Yard with model numbers 18730T-BZ, 18730T-HJ, 18734T-DV, 18934-SW, 18934-DV, 18935T-UT, 18935-CH, 18942-EC, 18950-GV, 18950T-GV, 18751-DV, 18951T-GS, 18951T-MO, and 18744-BL. The recall also covers Carters Lennon Travelin’ Tot Play Yard with model numbers 18740-UE, 18740T-UE, 18736T-LJ, 18737-L and 18737T-LJ. Kolcraft Sesame Beginnings Play Yards with model numbers 22361-VT and SP001-SBK are also affected by this recall. Four different Jeep Sahara Play Yards with model numbers 55235-JC, 55237-JQ, 55237T-JQ, 55237-XC, 55237-XV, 55237T-XB, 55770-XA, 55770-XI, 55772-XE, 55773-XY and JP002-XSP are included. And finally, the Contours 3-in-1 Play Yard with model numbers 18604-OC and ZP003-MAL has been recalled.
All of the play yards include a raised changing table with a restraint strap that forms a loop beneath the changing table, posing a strangulation hazard. The CPSC says that it has received a report that a 10-month-old child was strangled by one these restraint straps.
The CPSC has also received reports about the Contours 3-in1 Play Yard which also comes with a raised cradle that can rock back and forth. A child can roll and get trapped against the side of the cradle, and can potentially suffocate. There have been 45 reports of children rolling into the side, but fortunately there have been no fatalities.
The CPSC says that the play yards should not be used until consumers contact Kolcraft and receive repair kits for both the changing table restraint strap and the rocking cradle. The existing restraint strap should be cut off immediately, and caregivers should never place an infant in the play yard while the cradle or changing table is in place. To order the appropriate repair kits, consumers should contact Kolcraft at (888) 638-8270 or via the company’s website: www.kolcraft.com.
This is the second time in less than a week that the CPSC has recalled a product that posed a potentially fatal hazard to infants. Last Friday, the agency recalled more than 1 million Simplicity and Graco cribs with a design defect that could cause fatal injuries to babies sleeping in the cribs. The deaths of three children have been linked to those defective cribs.
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