CONSUMER WATCH! RECALL ALERT – Save a Little Life

There’s a lot to think about when you’re having a baby, so many needs to consider – cribs, strollers, clothing, diapers, baby bottles, bassinets, and more. Needless to say, choosing the best and safest products for your infant, toddler, or young child can be a dizzying process, especially when you’re bombarded with so many product choices.

But how to know if you’re buying something that poses a serious risk? An easy way to stay informed is to register with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (cpsc.gov) to receive their email alerts that identify dangerous products and provide information about their risks. They also have an app you can download to your phone. You can find that here. This is a must-have resource. Adult-related products are included as well.

We went over all the alerts that were issued this year up to the writing of this article and identified a number of product categories that seem to continually pose a health and safety risk where infants and toddlers are concerned. And the list of products grows every day.

Here’s a sample of our findings…

Several baby bathing seats that are unsafe and present an increased risk of drowning
Bassinets which are unsafe for infants, increasing the risk of suffocation or entrapment

One or more baby gates that do not meet safety standards
More than a few chests of drawers that are top heavy and are easy to tip over by a small child causing serious injury

Numerous toys, games and other items powered by small batteries that, if placed in
the mouth, increase both a choking risk as well as a risk for toxic ingestion

Several safety helmets for those starting to ride a bike or skateboard that are not
adequate for protection of the head
Several “self-feeding” pillows with attachments for a small bottle that pose a
choking risk

Any number of medications and/or supplements that violate child resistant
packaging and can lead to serious or lethal toxic ingestion
Infant & toddler bedtime clothing that do not meet flammability standards

There are also a significant number of items that adults use regularly including:

Power strips for multiple electrical inputs that pose a fire risk
Steam cleaners due to risk of serious burns
A number of pool or hot tub drain covers which increase the risk of entrapment and
drowning
Several adult portable side rails that increase the risk of serious falls

Save a Little Life™ strongly encourages all parents to register with the CPSC. Here’s a direct link to subscribe to their mailing list.

BE PREPARED. BE SAFE.