Graco and CPSC recall 2 million strollers for risk of strangulation

Today CPSC and Graco announced the recall of 2 million Quattro and Metrolite strollers sold between 2000 and 2007. Babies can slip between the seat and stroller tray -- trapping their head and leading to strangulation. At least four babies died this way between 2003 and 2005.

If you have one of these strollers (the list of model numbers is long!), stop using it until you can get the repair kit from the company.

We have many questions about this recall. This risk has been known for years, and certainly was evident in these strollers after the first death in 2003. The voluntary standard setting committee on strollers at ASTM addressed the flaw through changes in that standard in 2008 (which means work on it started long before that). Why are the strollers only being recalled now, years later? And more importantly, why were they sold until 2007 if the first death happened in 2003?

We'll be trying to get some answers. For all parents -- use the restraint on your stroller at all times, don't rely on the tray to restrain your baby. CPSC has issued a safety alert on stroller safety.

The Illinois Attorney General's office has also posted a very eye-catching alert that can be printed out and used as a poster in childcare facilities or any other place families gather. Help spread the word of this important recall.

Even though they report a death in Canada in 2006 in this product, Health Canada has declined to recall the product there, instead giving parents safe use information.

Maclaren Stroller Recall: Update

On Monday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall of 1 million Maclaren strollers sold in the last decade. The recall includes all single and double umbrella strollers, which pose a risk of fingertip laceration and amputation for children. The CPSC has received 15 incident reports, including 12 instances of child fingertip amputations. The hazard results from children getting their fingers pinched in the hinge while parents open or close the stroller. News of the recall first appeared in the Baby Bargains Blog over the weekend.

Maclaren has responded by offering a free repair kit with hinge covers to all owners of these strollers. However, consumers have reported difficulty in accessing the repair kits. Maclaren's website and phone lines were overloaded on Monday, preventing some consumers from ordering the repair kits. Maclaren has also posted a YouTube video with directions on how to install the hinge covers.

Hinge hazards are common to all folding strollers and the CPSC is looking into the need for further recalls or regulations for stroller hinges. Parents should stop using any Maclaren stroller included in the recall until the hinge covers are installed. As with any recall, CPSC is still interested in reports of injuries or incidents with the product.

Update: On Thursday The New York Post reported that Maclaren knew about the risk of finger amputation in their umbrella strollers at least five years ago and failed to report the hazard to the CPSC. In July 2004 a 23-month-old lost his pinky finger, resulting in a settlement between his family and Maclaren. In 2007, an engineer and former compliance officer with the CPSC testified that Maclaren folding strollers have a design defect in comparison to other strollers for children and that the design violates federal regulations intended to prevent a "scissoring effect." The CPSC is still investigating the case.

Update: Maclaren has responded to many of the concerns about the online form and repair kit process and made it easier to get the needed hinge covers.

Bugaboo strollers recalled -- bad brakes

Bugaboo has recalled almost 23,000 $500+ Bee strollers because the brakes can fail, causing the stroller to roll on inclines and possibly injure the occupant or others. With 121 reports of failure, there are no reported injuries. Bugaboo will send replacement parts to anyone who registered their stroller prior to May 1 and has an online form for others to complete to get the repair kit.

Bugaboo strollers are certified through the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association's (JPMA) certification program, meaning they meet the voluntary ASTM standard for strollers. The ASTM standard does include testing for brake integrity; it is not known how this product performed on that test. In many cases, failures that are identified through a recall can lead to stronger standards to avoid the problem in the future. Strollers are among the products specified by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 as requiring the development of a new mandatory standard and third party testing.