Guest Author - Cheryl Lewis

Just as Graco has been hit with a $4 million dollar fine for failing to report defects and injuries, which included some deaths, a recall of toddler beds has been announced. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a press release recalling approximately 1.2 million toddler beds produced by Graco Children’s Products, Inc.

There have been reports of 77 entrapments involving the Graco toddler beds sold under the names Cozy Toddler Bed, Glow-in-the-Dark Toddler Bed, and Classic Toddler Bed. The entrapments resulted in 13 broken arms and legs, 1 broken foot, a sprained ankle, and multiple bruises and scratches. The injuries can occur when a child’s small arm, leg or foot becomes trapped in the slats found on the guardrails, headboards and footboards of these beds.

These beds were sold in the U.S. at discount, department and children’s products stores between February 1994 and March 2001. They were generally priced between $50 and $70.00.

You can also check for any of the following model numbers; 8801, 8801WR, 8821, 8824, 8828, 8833, 30066, 34434 and 11030, which will be found on a label either on a guardrail or leg of the bed. The label will also contain a serial number and the manufacturer’s address.

If you have one of these beds, you need to remove the guardrails immediately. You can contact Graco for a retrofit kit of mesh coverings for the guardrails and footboards, which will prevent small limbs from becoming trapped. Unfortunately, those mesh coverings are not expected to be available for about six to eight weeks.

If you would like to read the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission press release it can be found at CPSC, Graco Children’s Products Announce Recall of Toddler Beds”.

To contact Graco: (800) 837-4404 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or go to their site at www.gracobaby.com. You can also find additional information on Graco product recalls at their Customer & Product Support page.

*information used in this article was obtained from a CPSC press release and a CNN news report