One million play yards recalled--is Kolcraft's fix adequate?

Kolcraft's recent recall of one million play yards and portable cribs presents consumers with serious risks. The firm has received 347 reports of sides of the play yard collapsing unexpectedly, resulting in 21 injuries including bumps, bruises, scrapes, and one concussion. KID strongly recommends that families stop using the play yard and contact Kolcraft.

As a remedy, Kolcraft proposes a repair kit that requires four rods to be inserted along the collapsing rails and permanent labels warning consumers of the need for the rods. KID thinks this fix is inadequate and only introduces further risks. It is unrealistic that a fix requiring four extra steps in crib set up will be used each time. If rods are lost or misplaced and caregivers continue to use the play yard, the child is left vulnerable.

KID thinks the repair kit is only appropriate if you use your play yard in one permanent location, without setting it up and taking it down. Stop using the play yard until you've installed the repair kit. Then, leave the rods in permanently and do not collapse the product for storage or travel. When you have finished with the product, do not pass it on with the fix but destroy it. On the other hand, if you regularly set up and take down your play yard when using it, KID recommends against the fix. Instead, contact Kolcraft for a replacement or refund. If unavailable, destroy the product.

Please contact CPSC and Kolcraft and let them know how unhappy you are with this unsafe/inadequate fix. Read KID's letter to CPSC expressing concern about this recall.

NOTE: In follow up conversations with CPSC, KID now believes that it is unlikely these play yards will collapse completely, causing an entrapment hazard. It still creates a significant fall hazard as evidenced by the 21 injuries. We encourage all consumers to comply with this recall, either by stopping use of the product and destroying it if you need it for travel or if it is set up and down frequently, or by getting and installing the fix if the product can remain set up once the fix is applied.