Safety Recalls: What You Need to Know
As parents, it's our most basic instinct to protect our children from harm, and our most basic desire to see our children thrive. So what could be more frightening than when the food, toys or accessories we give our children end up threatening their safety? Sadly, this happens more often than we realize.
In the month of October alone: 63,000 Fisher Price Soothing Motion Seats were recalled due to motor overheating, presenting a fire & burn hazard; 587,000 wind-up musical plush toys from Kids Preferred brands Carter’s®, Child of Mine®, Guess How Much I Love You®, and Just One You® recalled as the metal post or handle of the mechanism can detach and become a choking hazard; 7,500 Room Essentials leather pouf ottomans from Target recalled because children can open the zippers and suffocate or choke on the filling beads; 29,700 Bruin infant wiggle balls sold at Toys “R” Us recalled because the rubber knobs and plastic back can detach and become a choking hazard for infants; and Playtex recalled 3.6 million children’s plates and bowls as the plastic coating over the graphics can peel or bubble and become a choking hazard, just to name a few.It's safe to say that before products make it to the shelves of our stores, they have been through testing and quality control. However, that's not to say that human or mechanical errors can't happen, or that our curious kids can't find a way to dismantle things that seemed failsafe. So, how can parents help prevent these risks?First, for all items that come with a manufacturer's registration card (car seats, cribs, high chairs, monitors, baby gates, and more), be sure to fill that card out and mail it in. This will only take a few seconds and it's virtually the only way a manufacturer can reach out to you directly in the event of a recall. Second, keep an eye on websites that post recalled items. Safekids.org is a website designed to keep kids safe in many aspects of their lives. You can see recalled items from the Food & Drug Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, among others. Third, if you own a product that causes harm to your child, make sure to discontinue use and report it to the manufacturer promptly, as well as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (cpsc.gov). You just might save another child's life.By registering your products, keeping an eye on recall websites, and reporting any unsafe products, you can help prevent unnecessary harm to your little ones. In addition, before you make any purchase, always check age recommendations and expiration dates. Many toys that look harmless have small parts not readily visible. It's our number one priority to help keep your kids healthy and safe. Be sure to contact us for more information, or to set up an appointment to keep them on the path to health!
