The CSPC is recalling Phil & Ted Bugaboo strollers in the US and Canada for its brake failure issues. The exact directive of the recall is below:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Explorer and Hammerhead Strollers

Units: Explorer: 7,400 in the U.S. and 1,900 in Canada; Hammerhead: 160 in the U.S. and 65 in Canada

Importer: phil&teds USA Inc, of Fort Collins, Colo.

Hazard: The brake mechanism on the strollers can fail, posing an injury hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Eight incidents have been reported globally; none in North America. No injuries were reported.

Description: The recalled strollers have metal frames and were sold as single strollers or with a doubles kit to make them double strollers. The Explorer has three wheels and the Hammerhead has four. Both have a cloth seat and canopy. Explorer strollers were sold in the following colors: black, apple green, navy, red/black and apple green/black. Hammerhead strollers were sold in black only. The phil&teds logo is located on the crotch piece of the harness on both models. The strollers have the text “phil&teds model EX explorer” or “phil&teds model HH hammerhead” printed on a sticker on the rear axle bar. The serial numbers run consecutively with the month and year followed by the unit number. Affected serial numbers: 0610/0001 to 0111/4788 (June 2010, unit #1, to January 2011, unit #4788). This information can be found on a sticker attached to the inside of the left hand hinge when viewing the stroller from behind.

Sold by: Sold online at philandteds.com, pishposhbaby.com, and albeebaby.com; and at Babies R Us and specialty juvenile retailers in the United States and Canada from August 2010 through June 2011 for between $475 and $500.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact phil&teds to arrange to receive a upgraded brake assembly. Explorer owners will receive a new frame fitted with an upgraded brake assembly. Consumers can perform an in-home swap out of the affected frame. Hammerhead owners will receive a pre-paid return shipping container in order to return the stroller to phil&teds where the brake assembly will be replaced and the stroller returned.

Consumer Contact: For additional information in the U.S. and Canada, contact phil&teds USA toll free at (855) 652-9019 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday, or visit the company’s website at www.philandteds.com/support

Here’s another toy recall for parents to be vigilant about…

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has ordered a recall on this product, the toys keys remote, as it is not safe for babies and children. The rings can break from its hold and is a potential choking hazard. The consumer agency has apparently already received reports of this keys breaking, but thankfully, no injury nor casualty has been reported.

Parents are, however, asked to return this toy to the store or stop having the child play with it.

Below is part of the recall order from US CPSC:

• Description: This recall includes all B. FunKeys™ with factory code H58000-01 or H26300-01, and Parents® Magazine Electronic Keys with factory code H26300-01. The factory code is located on the back of the remote. The remote of the B. Fun Keys is olive green or red and the top of the keys are multi-colored. The remote of the Parents Magazine Electronic Keys comes in different colors and the top of the keys is a solid color. Both remotes have sound buttons, and the metal keys hang from a plastic ring.
• Sold at: Retailers nationwide and online sellers from April 2010 to May 2011 for B. FunKeys, and from January 2006 to December 2009 for Parents Magazine keys for about $9.
• Manufactured in: China
• Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Battat toll-free at (866) 665-5524 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.battatco.com

You can check for similar toys from this photo at the USCPSC site.

Some 600 Toy Story 3 Bowling merchandise has been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission last May 5. The products, which have been made in China and were sold at Walmart, were pulled off shelves because the bowling pins have the presence of red paint which its distributor G.A. Gertmenian and Sons believes to contain lead.

The full CPSC release follows after.

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission has acted upon this disturbing report about a child’s death which has been caused by window blinds. The institution, according to this New York Times article, is asking manufacturers “to devise a way to eliminate the risks from window cords or perhaps face mandatory regulations.”

It was apparently discovered that these manufacturers do not put safety as its main priority in the beginning. But because of the incident that left a 2 year old child hanging from the window blinds, they are now also taking action and have promised to fix this design flaw. Although a representative said that it may be unrealistic to expect it all from the side of the manufacturers, implying that it’s also the parents’ responsibility to make sure to take precautions especially around kids since window blinds are not meant for children to play with.

Still, there is a need to set up new regulations regarding this. And there is an ongoing debate between manufacturers and parents, as well.

This piece from the New York Times is actually quite telling, as a solution has already existed even before.

What makes the debate over window blinds so vexing is that a solution has been available for several decades: cordless blinds. But cordless blinds are more difficult to manufacture than corded blinds, and can cost considerably more in stores, by some estimates, twice as much.

In an interview, Ms. Tenenbaum said cordless blinds were part of the solution. But the additional cost, she said, had prompted her to push manufacturers to find cheaper alternatives, too, like retractable cords or cords that are covered and therefore inaccessible to children.

Ralph J. Vasami, executive director of the Window Covering Manufacturers Association, said it was unrealistic to expect the industry to eliminate every possible hazard. Window blinds are not children’s products, he said, nor are they defective. His trade group urges parents of young children to install cordless shades.

“The objective is to minimize the hazard as much as possible,” said Mr. Vasami. “I don’t know if you have it in your power to eliminate every hazard for every product.”

More on this here.

During the exciting weeks leading up to the holidays, many people find themselves out shopping for gifts, driving to visit family and friends, and decorating their homes in the spirit of the season. Among all this holiday cheer we often forget that unsafe toys, and other holiday season safety hazards cannot only ruin the holidays, but the months and even years to follow.

• Make sure all toys are well-suited for your child’s age group and skill level.
• Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission website to look for toy recalls and reviews of unsafe toys.
• If you have small children in your home, avoid breakable or fragile Christmas tree decorations as well as edible decorations as children can easily be confused as to which ornaments are edible and which are not.
• Active toys such as skateboards, bicycles, skates, or sporting equipment should always be accompanied by the appropriate safety gear (helmets, pads, etc.)
• When enjoying the warmth of a fireplace, be sure to use a screen or glass enclosure to keep embers at bay and prevent logs from rolling out. A word of caution however, glass enclosures can heat up to 400°F in just 6 minutes and take as long as 45 minutes to cool. To prevent serious burns, keep your kids away from the fireplace for at least an hour after the fire has been put out.
• If you’ll be visiting friends and relatives over the holidays, know that their homes may not be child-proofed. Be sure to ask in advance if there will be fences around swimming pools or guns in the home and kindly remind them small objects that would be within reach of a toddler should be removed.
• If traveling, try to keep your child’s routine (eating time, nap times, etc.) as consistent as possible to keep both of your stress levels low and allow you to enjoy the holidays together.

By following these holiday safety tips you can help ensure that this season is filled with happy memories you’ll treasure for years to come.