• Cribs

The United State Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced two recalls this week that should have parents concerned about the quality of two of their child’s most important protective devices. First, the agency announced a major recall of the popular PT Domusindo Perdana drop-side cribs on Tuesday, as approximately 73,000 units have been linked to potentially life-threatening suffocation hazards.

According to the CPSC, the drop sides may have been manufactured with a defect that causes them to detach or fall. In either case, an area is created in which a baby or small child could potentially roll over and fall into, leading to the head or other body parts becoming trapped or tangled up in the frame. If the head becomes entrapped in the drop side, the child could possibly suffocate, leading to brain damage or even death.

The Indonesian-based Modus Furniture International is aware of three incidents of the drop side breaking or detaching; however, there have been no injuries reported as of yet. Yet the concern was great enough for the company to recall 14 models of the PT Domusindo Perdana cribs, including Jenny Lind Crib, Christopher Crib, Early American Crib, Scottsdale Crib, Sleigh Crib without Rosette, Sleigh Crib, Anniversary Sleigh Crib, Kristin Crib, Cameron Crib, Solid Panel Sleigh Crib, Roll Bar Convertible Crib, Anniversary Convertible Sleigh Crib, Spindle Convertible Crib and Bella 3-in-1 Crib.

The cribs were sold exclusively by JC Penney from January 1998 through December 2008 for as much as $400. The CPSC is urging parents to stop using the cribs immediately and contact the company at (800) 827-2129 to order a free drop side immobilization kit. Unfortunately, those kits won’t be available until May 2013, so parents are being left to find alternate sleeping accommodations for their infants.

Yesterday, the CPSC also announced the recall of approximately 9,200 Bugaboo Cameleon3 strollers because of a defective carrying handle that can break, causing the child to fall to the ground. While no injuries have been reported, Bugaboo Americas have received 16 reports of broken handles.

The strollers – sold at high end retailers for between $889 and $1,600 – can still be used, but Bugaboo is urging parents to remove the carry handles. Parents can contact Bugaboo at (800) 460-2922 to order free handle replacements.