0 FDA bans BPA from baby bottles, sippy cups

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week banned the use of bisphenol-A (BPA) in baby bottles and sippy cups nationwide. The FDA ban comes about nine months after the chemical industry petitioned the FDA to ban such uses on grounds of "abandonment," meaning that no one was using it for that purpose any more. The industry filed the petition less than two weeks after the ban was approved by the California legislature. Other states banned it earlier. The federal ban is good news for consumers, but there's more still to do, said Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union, the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports....

0 CPSC tries to stop sale of super-magnetic 'Buckyballs'

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has filed a lawsuit aimed at stopping the sale of Buckyballs, a popular magnetic desk toy that the CPSC complaint says presents "a substantial product hazard." Despite labeling changes designating the product for use only by those age 14 or older and package warnings about potentially life-threatening injuries that can occur if the tiny high-powered magnets are swallowed, the agency has received mounting reports of children swallowing Buckyballs. Many of the children required surgery as a result. The CPSC complaint asks that Buckyballs maker Maxfield & Oberton stop importing and selling Buckyballs...

0 Peg Perego and Kolcraft stroller models recalled due to safety hazards

Recalled Peg Perego Venezia stroller Peg Perego has recalled 223,000 of its Venezia and Pliko-P3 strollers, both older models, because of the risk of entrapment and strangulation. Meanwhile, Kolcraft has recalled 5,600 of its Contours Options LT Tandem strollers because of a fall hazard involving the front wheel assembly and a choking hazard involving a screw that can come off. A 7-month-old in New York, nearly strangled when her head was trapped between the seat and the tray of a Peg Perego stroller in 2006. And in 2004, a 6-month-old in California died of strangulation after his head was trapped between the seat and the tray of one...

0 Consumer Reports warns about high chair choking hazard

Consumer Reports says owners of one model of high chair manufactured by Baby Trend of Ontario, California should check the product carefully for any plastic labels that can be removed without tools, and thus might pose a safety hazard if young children peel the labels free, put them in their mouths and then choke on them. The Baby Trend Deluxe Feeding Center Chrissy is a $90 chair intended for babies and toddlers weighing up to 40 pounds. Consumer Reports is not aware of any choking incidents involving the Deluxe Feeding Center and we believe that the likelihood of such incidents is small. However, should such incidents occur, they could...

0 Rates of infant mortality and preterms births are down, but still too high

The rates of babies being born too early and dying soon after birth has gone down in the U.S., according to a new government report. But the rates of those events are still higher here than in many other industrialized countries. The new report, from the National Institutes of Health, shows that the proportion of infants born preterm (that is, before the 37th week of pregnancy), dropped from 12.2 percent in 2009 to 12.0 percent in 2010. That's a step in the right direction, but still puts the U.S. about 130th in the world, on par with Somalia, Thailand, and Turkey, according to information from the March of Dimes. The number of children...

0 Chicco Polly high chairs recalled due to laceration hazard

Artsana USA, of Lancaster, Pa., has recalled 455,000 Chicco Polly high chairs in the U.S. and 30,690 in Canada, because children can fall on or against the pegs on the rear legs of the high chair, resulting in bruising or laceration. Artsana is aware of 21 reports in which a child was injured after falling against the peg, including four laceration injuries requiring stitches, tape or glue, and one scratched cornea, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Chicco Polly high chairs were sold January 2005 through July 2012 for $100 to $150 at Babies R Us, Burlington Coat Factory, Buy Buy Baby, Shopko and Toys R Us, and...

0 Flexible Flyer swing sets recalled due to see saw breaking

The Troxel Company, of Moscow, Tenn., has recalled 100,500 Flexible Flyer swing sets in the U.S. and 4,900 in Canada because the see saw seat can break away from the bolt fasteners during use, posing a fall hazard. Troxel has received 1,232 reports of breaking see saws, resulting in thirteen injuries to young children that included bumps, bruises and lacerations. The recalled swing sets were sold for $130 to $280 at Walmart, Toys R Us, Academy, and other specialty stores and online from December 2011 through May 2012. The Flexible Flyer swing set comes in 11 models, each with a see saw attachment along with swings, bars or a slide....

0 Flexible Flyer swing sets recalled because see saw can break while in use

The Troxel Company, of Moscow, Tenn., has recalled 100,500 Flexible Flyer swing sets in the U.S. and 4,900 in Canada because the see saw seat can break away from the bolt fasteners during use, posing a fall hazard. Troxel has received 1,232 reports of breaking see saws, resulting in thirteen injuries to young children that included bumps, bruises and lacerations. The recalled swing sets were sold for $130 to $280 at Walmart, Toys R Us, Academy, and other specialty stores and online from December 2011 through May 2012. The Flexible Flyer swing set comes in 11 models, each with a see saw attachment along with swings, bars or a slide....

0 Most kids 8 to 12 now have cell phones. Should yours?

Nearly six out of 10 U.S. parents of children ages 8 to12 (a.k.a. "tweeners" or tweens) have provided those children with cell phones. And many parents are paying more than they expected to for phone service, according to the National Consumers League, which conducted a survey this past June that queried 802 parents. The survey showed that the top reasons parents had for buying phones for this age group are safety (84 percent), tracking a child's after-school activities (73 percent), and that the child asked for one (16 percent.) As for what kinds of phones parents are buying for their tweens: A perhaps surprisingly low 4 percent got...

0 Study shows that child safety seats remain difficult to secure

Only about one in five late-model cars have easy-to-use LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) anchor systems, according to new report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The study was conducted with the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) on how vehicle design could influence a parent's or caregiver's ability to easily and successfully install child restraints in their car. Clearly, having the restraints in the car is a key first step, but unless they are simple to use, many parents may not use the LATCH or don't install the child safety seats correctly. The study focused on the...

0 Drop-side cribs sold at JC Penney recalled due to entrapment hazard

Nan Far Woodworking has recalled about 16,700 of its Rockland Furniture drop-side cribs, which were sold exclusively at JC Penney, because the drop sides can malfunction, creating a space a child can become wedged in, leading to strangulation or suffocation. This safety hazard can also cause a child to fall out of the crib. Drop-side incidents can also occur due to incorrect assembly and with age-related wear and tear. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is aware of five incidents involving drop sides that malfunctioned or detached, including one report of a child who became entrapped and sustained minor scratches and bruises. ...

0 Youth jackets recalled due to drawstring dangers

A "Me Jane" girl's jacket from Louise Paris. Before you put away those winter jacketsor start wearing lighter farefor the warmer springtime season, you might want to check that they're not part of the latest Consumer Product Safety Commission recall for dangerous outerwear. The CPSC safety agency has issued recall alerts for V-Konstruct Training Jacket from Puma North America, Inc. and "Me Jane" girl's jackets from Louise Paris Ltd. Both types of children's outerwear have drawstrings at the waist which can become snagged or caught in small spaces or vehicle doors and pose strangulation hazards. For over a decade, the CPSC has issued...

0 Target recalls Home Bunny Sippy Cups due to injury danger

Retail giant Target Corp. is recalling about 264,000 of its Home Bunny Sippy Cups, says the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The rabbit-shaped toddler training cups from Target have protruding ears which can poke a child in the eye area during use. The CPSC says the Target Corp. of Minneapolis, Minn., has received six reports of the Target Home Bunny Sippy Cups injuring children during routine use. In half of those cases, cuts and bruises were reported. The cups were sold at Target stores nation-wide from February to April in pink and blue styles for about $3 each. Consumers are urged to immediately stop using the cups and return...

0 Kolcraft bassinets recalled due to fall dangers

The Tender Vibes Deluxe Rocking Bassinet (model number KB039-CMR1) The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a safety recall for certain bassinet models made by Kolcraft Enterprises Inc., of Chicago, Ill. The Kolcraft Tender Vibes and Light Vibes bassinets have locking latches which may fail and cause the bassinets to fall, possibly injuring a child inside. The CPSC and Kolcraft have received seven reports of latches detaching from the bassinet frame. In one of those incidents, one infant received a bruised cheek when the bassinet fell from its metal frame and landed sideways on the floor with the infant inside. Consumer...

0 Banzai inflatable pool slides recalled due to severe injuries and death risks

A recall of Banzai inflatable pool slides previously sold at Walmart and Toys R Us outlets has been announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The bottom of the plastic slides, designed for in-ground pools, can deflate during use and cause swimmers using the slide to severely injure themselves. According to the CPSC, there have been at least three cases where the recalled pool slides, designed for use with in-ground pools, have maimed or killed swimmers. In one incident, a 29-year old mother died from a neck fracture, caused when she hit her head on the concrete floor beneath the collapsing slide. In another case, the pool...

0 Think safety when turning over mowing tasks to your teen

With a long summer of mowing ahead, parents of teens and pre-teens may be wondering when it's safe for a child to take over this chore. Children under 18 suffer 13 percent of the 68,000 mower injuries treated annually in emergency rooms, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. With that in mind, the AAP recommends that no child younger than 12 operate a walk-behind mower, that no teen younger than 16 drive a riding mower and that children never be allowed to ride along as passengers. Fortunately, today's mowers come with some standard safety features that put the operator at less risk of getting hurt such as levers that stop...

0 New labeling will help you pick the best sunscreen

More-detailed labeling is appearing in stores; this brand is not real and is for illustration only. Coming soon to a store near you: sunscreens with labels that are easier to understand. The Food and Drug Administration plans to give manufacturers until mid-December to make all the changes, but many products already have the new labeling. Here are some of the biggest changes, which will also apply to moisturizers and cosmetic products that contain a sun-protection factor (SPF): "Broad spectrum" will really mean something. The SPF value indicates a sunscreen's protection from ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, which is the primary cause...

0 When to retire a child seat, how to recycle an old one

Hand-me downs are a part of growing up in many families. It can be a great way to save money, but not all things should be shared equally. For instance, child seats can be passed down, though there are key restrictions to keep in mind. It's time to retire a seat if any of the following apply: It has passed its expiration date. All seats have a date after which they can no longer be used. It is based on the expected life span of various components, and the structure of the seat itself. The expiration date also takes into account that newer seats will incorporate the latest safety technology and meet the most current standards. Most seats...

0 2 bike helmets offer poor protection from impact, our tests find

Any bike helmet is better than riding with no helmet. But when you're paying $50 or $60 for one, you'd like to think that it's going to protect your head if you crash into a curb, a rock, or the ground, right? To find out how well bike helmets absorb impact, we used a device to drop 13 different models onto differently shaped anvils at about 11 or 14 mph (the speed depended on the anvil used). We used an electronic sensor inside a dummy head to detect how much force would be transmitted to a rider's head in an accident. Of the nine bike helmets for adults and four youth models we tested (see bike helmet Ratings, available to subscribers),...

0 Safety 1st toilet and cabinet locks recalled due to locking failures

Safety 1st sliding cabinet lock being recalled.(Phto: US CPSC) About 183,000 toilet locks and 685,000 cabinet locks from Safety 1st are being recalled, warned two government agencies, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada. The locks fail to keep children out of toilet bowls and prevent drowning nor do they secure household cabinets which may contain harmful home cleaners and other chemicals. Dorel Juvenile Group, which markets the recalled Safety 1st locks, has received 110 reports of failing toilet locks and 278 incidents of failing cabinet slide locks. In one of reports, a failing cabinet slide lock enabled a...

0 C-sections may increase the risk of childhood obesity

The rates of both cesarean sections and childhood obesity have risen steadily in the U.S. over the last couple of decades. Now, a surprising new study suggests the two trends may be linked. After following 1,255 mother-and-baby pairs from pregnancy through the child's third birthday, Harvard researchers found that by age 3, 16 percent of children born by C-section were obese, about twice as many as those delivered vaginally. Moms who had a C-section tended to weigh more and give birth to heavier babies than those who delivered vaginally, and also breastfed for a shorter period of time. But the connection between C-sections and obesity...

0 Pool safety tips just in time for Memorial Day weekend

As the weather warms up, we thought we'd share some practical pool safety tips so that you and your family can enjoy a cool dip this Memorial Day weekend and on into the long days of summer. According to the CPSC, from 2009 to 2011, there was an annual average of 5,200 pool or spa-related emergency department-treated submersion injuries for children younger than 15. It's important to have several protective layers of pool safety, including CPR and first aid skills. Plus kids in and around pools should be under constant adult supervision, and young children should take swimming lessons so they can get themselves out of trouble if they...

0 Tide Pod laundry detergent packaging gets makeover due to safety concerns

Tide Pods liquid laundry detergent made its star entrance during last February's Academy Awards, and Procter & Gamble's CEO touted the new cleaner as "one of the biggest innovations in many, many years." Now, as poison centers around the country are reporting an increase in calls about children ingesting or otherwise being exposed to highly concentrated laundry detergent packaged in small, single-dose packets, Tide Pods will undergo a makeover. The plastic tubs that hold the individual Tide Pods will get a double latch on the lid to make them tougher to open. The updated product should arrive on store shelves within the next couple...

0 What does new limit for child lead poisoning mean for your family?

You've probably heard that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week lowered the limit for child lead poisoning from 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood to five, so what does this mean for you and your family? According to the CDC, about 250,000 children in the U.S. between the ages of one and five years old, have blood lead levels greater than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, the level at which CDC recommends public health actions be initiated. The lower limit would put that figure at approximately 450,000. However, even that level of lead is not ideal. "There is no safe level of lead in children, and...

0 Toys R Us Imaginarium activity centers recalled due to choking hazard

Toys R Us has recalled 24,000 of its Imaginarium activity centers because the small wooden knobs attaching the xylophone keys to the end can detach, causing a choking hazard to young children. Toys R Us has received eight reports of the knobs detaching, but no injuries have been reported. The five-sides activity centers were sold for about $25 at Toys R Us stores nationwide and on the company's website from August 2009 through September 2010. The recalled Imaginariums have two triangle-shaped ends with a wooden multi-colored xylophone on one and a mirror on the other. The three sides are square-shaped and include moveable block...

0 U.S. ranks 131st in the world in preventing premature births

Each year, 12 percent of American babies, or nearly half a million infants, enter the world too soon. That gives us a premature birth rate on par with that of Somalia, Thailand, and Turkey, and behind 130 other countries. That was the finding of a new report, called Born Too Soon, that is the first to look at preterm birth rates by country, published by the March of Dimes Foundation, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Save the Children, and the World Health Organization. Infants in the U.S. who are born before 37 weeks of completed pregnancy are more likely to survive than those born in many other parts of the...

0 Convertible high chairs recalled due to trays detaching, posing fall hazard to children

Evenflo has recalled 35,000 of its convertible high chairs sold at Toys "R" Us and Walmart, because the chair's activity tray can unexpectedly detach and allow an unrestrained child to fall, posing a risk of injury. Evenflo has received 18 reports of trays that detached, including eight reports of children who fell from the high chair and sustained bumps and bruises, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The recall includes high chairs that convert to a toddler-size table and chair, pictured below. The high chairs were sold for about $40 between December 2011 and June 2012 at Toys "R" Us and Walmart stores nationwide,...

0 Family-friendly walks

Want to walk on the wild side--as a family? It's as simple as stepping out the door. Try one of these three easy destinations. In your community Find walking paths near you by downloading the American Heart Association's Walking Paths App. (And see our stroller Ratings and buying guide.) To school Walking a mile to and from school every day would provide about two-thirds of the physical activity kids and teens need every day (the U.S. Surgeon General recommends one hour a day of vigorous and bone-strengthening activities most days of the week). Contact your children's school or your local municipality to find out if your community participates...

0 New safety standard for baby monitors from ASTM International

Electrical cords on baby monitors must now be labeled with a strangulation hazard warning under a new ASTM International safety standard. The standard is in response to reports by the Consumer Product Safety Commission that seven infants died as a result of strangling in baby monitor cords that were placed too close to a crib. The new label reminds caregivers to mount the cord more than three feet away from the crib, according to Anthony Paolo, chairman of the subcommittee that developed the new safety standard, and vice president, corporate quality, Summer Infant Inc. "This safety standard is a good first step toward preventing incidents...

0 Kolcraft Contours Options strollers recalled due to amputation and laceration hazard

Kolcraft Enterprises of Chicago has recalled about 36,000 of its Contours Options three- and four-wheeled strollers in the U.S., because a child's or adult's finger can be caught in the opening formed when locking and unlocking the hinge mechanism that adjusts the handlebars, presenting an amputation and laceration hazard. Kolcraft and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have received five reports of injuries involving the hinge mechanism, including three of children whose fingertips were amputated and two adults whose fingers were lacerated or smashed. Strollers included in the recall have model numbers starting with ZL002, ZL005,...

0 Facebook for preteens must be ad-free and protect privacy

Several consumer-, privacy-, health-, and child-advocacy groups are calling on Facebook to provide privacy and marketing safeguards if it opens the social-networking service to children under 13. Our recent survey projected that more than 5.6 million children under the age of 13 already have Facebook accounts, in violation of Facebook's current policy of barring preteens. Once children have registered for accounts with false birthdays, the site treats them as teens or adults, depending on their stated age, and subjects them to the same data collection and marketing practices used to target older users. The Wall Street Journal reported...

0 Summer heat wave brings the danger of children in hot cars

With the hot weather and official start of summer, now is a good time for parents and caregivers to consider the dangers of leaving children in hot cars. In 2011, 33 children were killed due to hyperthermia, according to data from San Francisco State University Department of Geosciences. In 2010, that number was 49 children and most of the fatalities were children under 4 years old. It may seem like an impossible thing to do, but clearly the unthinkable can and does happen. Often, such tragedies involve hurried parents and caregivers, especially those drivers who change their routine. Some knowingly leave children in a car "just for...

0 Poor vehicle visibility creates dangerous blind spots

New car designs with low roofs and high trunks offer a sleek appearance, but they can cause drivers to have difficulty seeing out the back window. This poor visibility creates a big blind zone that can be dangerous and even deadly if you're not careful when backing up. Every year, children are injured and killed because drivers (parents and relatives in 70 percent of cases) don't see them while backing up. According to Kids and Cars, a nonprofit group that works to improve child safety around cars, at least 50 children are backed over every week in the United States. The problem is that larger vehicles are very popular, and they tend to have...

0 New federal safety requirements for play yards

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has approved new safety standards that will protect children as they play and sleep in mesh, portable play yards. Also known as pack-n-plays, these products are used in homes, for travel, and in child care homes. The CPSC said that there were more than 2,100 incidents with play yards reported to the agency between November 2007 and December 2011, including 60 fatalities and 170 injuries. The effective date for the new mandatory play yard safety standard is six months after the final rule is published in the Federal Register. The play yard safety standards was actually required by the Consumer...