Graco Recalls 7 Million Baby Swings

Approximately 7 million infant swings are being recalled because improper use of restraints, especially on used swings, can cause infants to fall out or strangle themselves.

Graco Children's Products, Inc., of Elverson, Pa., announced the recall Thursday in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The announcement said consumers should stop using the swings immediately and obtain new safety restraints that the company is providing to replace the old system.

"The safety restraint kit comes with instructions and can be installed easily," the company said. "The new safety system has a buckle that assures the crotch strap is used each time the waist belt is buckled, so infants are securely fastened into the swings."

The company said the old restraint system consisted only of a waist belt and a hinged or removable tray that also served as a restraint.

But it said if parts were missing or the restraints were not used, infants could slide down the swing seat and become entangled.

The swings, which were sold from the 1970s through January 1998, often are sold secondhand and without the removable tray that connects to a crotch strap, the company said.

It said six infant deaths have been reported over the years, five of them involving secondhand swings.

Owners of the swings can call Graco at 800-934-9082 to order replacement restraint systems, or get more information about the recall at the company's Web site.