Two Recalls For Child Safety

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 22, 1999 / 10:44 AM EST / CBS

If you're a parent who uses a Baby Bjorn infant carrier, or if your kids play with Party Time Happy String, you should know about safety recalls of those products. Kathleen Begala of the Consumer Product Safety Commission tells CBS This Morning what to do.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled about 240 million Baby Bjorn fabric infant carriers Thursday because of a danger that a baby can slip through the leg openings while riding in the carrier.

There are nine reports of infants slipping through the leg openings and falling to the ground. Six of them suffered fractured skulls. Fortunately, there have been no fatalities. The smaller the infant, the greater the risk.

Baby Bjorn Infant Carrier is a soft-fabric front carrier sold in navy blue, black, denim, forest green, and other colors. The name "Baby Bjorn" is printed on the front and strap of the carrier. They were sold nationwide from January 1991 through October 1998.

The CPSC wants people to stop using these carriers. However, a fix is available from Rega and Lager, Inc. of Marietta, Georgia. The company is offering consumers a free retrofit that will reduce the size of the leg openings. Call toll free (877) 242-5676 to receive the retrofit kit.

The CPSC is also recalling 190,000 cans of Part Time Happy String because the product contains a flammable chemical butane. A 4-year-old boy suffered first and second degree burns when some of the string ignited while he was blowing out birthday candles.

Party Time Spray String comes in 5-inch round metal spray containers The cans are mostly white, have plastic caps in various colors, and have the Party Time name on them. These cans were sold at Dollar Bills and Only $1 stores nationwide between October, 1998 and January 1999.

The CPSC says consumers should stop using this product. It can be returned to any Dollar Tree store for a refund. Call Dollar Tree at (800) 876-8077 any time.