Parents take extensive measures to keep their children safe and out of harm’s way. Last week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission warned parents and other consumers about the recall of approximately three million sets of Buckyball Magnets due to serious ingestion hazards. Although children’s toys are commonly recalled for potential dangers, even some apparel pieces can put children in danger, as is apparent with a recent recall of girl’s clothing sets.
Two days ago, Children’ Apparel Network recalled approximately 9,200 girl’s three-piece clothing sets that were sold at Conway, Citi Trends, Duckwall-Alco and other children’s apparel stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com. They were sold from September to December last year for about $40. According to the CPSC, the included vest has a belt that could become “snagged or caught in small spaces or vehicle doors, and it poses an entanglement hazard.”
This recall affects girl’s “Young Hearts” brand three-piece clothing sets that include a pink vest, black pullover shirt and knit pants in sizes 12 months to 6X. “Young Hearts” is printed on a label inside the shirt collar, and the pink vest has a black bow appliqué on the left front.
In February 1996, the CPSC issued guidelines about drawstrings in children’s upper outerwear, as young children are at serious risk for injury or death if their clothing catches on car or bus doors, guardrails, and playground slides, among other objects. From 1985 to 2009, 18 deaths and 38 non-fatal incidents linked to children’s outerwear drawstrings were reported to the CPSC. Although the guidelines were only voluntary, the CPSC issued a federal regulation on children’s upper outerwear in sizes 2T to 12 in July 2011.
Consumers should immediately remove the belt to eliminate the hazard or return the clothing set to the store where they originally purchased the item for a full refund. Additionally, consumers can contact the Children’s Apparel Network directly at (800) 919-1917 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.childrensapparelnetwork.com.