Dangerous baby products still in homes

Many new parents, worried about privacy and their baby's safety, don't mail in warranty cards cards with baby products.

But we can end up with dangerous, recalled items still in our home, if we never send back the card. Plus, we hand down baby items to our relatives.

So the Consumer Product Safety Commission is reminding parents to stop using a number of once popular baby products.

They include:

    -All cribs with drop sides: they were banned in 2010 after more than 30 infants were smothered or strangled by them.  If you still have one, throw it away: do not hand it off to a relative or try to sell it at a garage sale.

    -Crib bumper pads, possibly responsible for dozens of SIDS deaths.

     -Older Bumbo baby seats : More than 25 infants have fallen out, fracturing their skulls. Newer models have a seatbelt, and are safe.  You can also retrofit an older model, with a repair kit.

     -And a number of dangerous strollers that can either chop off fingers, or allow a baby to slip through, and become trapped and possibly strangle.

Don Mays, with our partners at Consumer Reports Magazine, said "if a child isn't strapped into the stroller, their torso could slip through the gap between the grab bar and the seat. But their head could get hung up. And that could result in strangulation."

Recent stroller recalls the past two years include:

      - Pre 2011 Zooper Waltz, Tango, Twist, or Flemenco strollers: risk of entrapment.

       - Bumble Ride Indie Twin strollers (Twin models only) Front wheel can break, fall hazard.

       - Pre 2009 Maclaren strollers: risk of fingertip amputation.

       - Pre 2007 Peg Perego strollers with a single cup holder: strangulation risk.

       - Kohlcraft Contours Option s strollers: risk of fingertip amputation.

You can find more information at  CPSC.gov or the stroller recall section of WeMakeitSafer.com.

Had one and was never notified?  Remember, consumers who mailed in the warranty card were alerted immediately, which is why the CPSC recommends filling out the card for all baby products.

As always, don't waste your money.

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"Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co.

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