The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc., of British Columbia, Canada, today announced the voluntary recall of more than 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs, including about 147,000 Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. The recall involves approximately 1,213,000 units distributed in the United States and 968,000 units distributed in Canada.

CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs, wait for the free repair kit, and do not attempt to fix the cribs without the kit. They should find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side.

This recall involves Stork Craft drop-side cribs and Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. This recall does not involve any cribs that do not have a drop-side. This recall does not involve any cribs with metal rod drop-side hardware. It involves only those cribs with plastic trigger and one-hand-system drop-side hardware.

Major retailers in the United States and Canada sold the recalled cribs including BJ’s Wholesale Club, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Meijer, Sears, USA Baby, and Wal-Mart stores and online at Amazon.com, Babiesrus.com, Costco.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com from January 1993 through October 2009 for between $100 and $400.

For additional information, contact Stork Craft toll-free at (877) 274-0277 anytime to order the free repair kit, or log on to www.storkcraft.com

original press release

Maclaren USA Recalls to Repair Strollers Following Fingertip Amputations

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Maclaren USA, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Maclaren Strollers

Units: About one million

Distributor: Maclaren USA, Inc., of South Norwalk, Conn.

Hazard: The stroller’s hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 15 reports of children placing their finger in the stroller’s hinge mechanism, resulting in 12 reports of fingertip amputations in the United States.

Description: This recall involves all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers. The word “Maclaren” is printed on the stroller. The affected models included Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.

Sold at: Babies”R”Us, Target and other juvenile product and mass merchandise retailers nationwide from 1999 through November 2009 for between $100 and $360.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using these recalled strollers and contact Maclaren USA to receive a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Maclaren USA toll-free at (877) 688-2326 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.maclaren.us/recall

Many children love to be nurtured by their parents with a little back rub. It feels good and mom’s or dad’s attention is the icing on the cake.

“Back rubs can be a wonderful part of a bedtime or naptime routine, but can also be fun during playtime”, says massage therapist and author Martine Groeneveld. “Combined with stories, rhymes and games, it’s a wonderful way for parents to cherish their child with magical, loving touch and undivided attention”.

A little back rub goes a long way. Nurturing touch during early childhood is proven to be beneficial for healthy child development. Research shows that it’s crucial for interpersonal communications, cognitive and emotional development, brain growth, establishing first (and future) relationships, healthy body image development and for reducing childhood (and future adult) aggression.

Pretty amazing to stimulate all this development with a simple and fun back rub!

Below are some examples of cute back rubs to engage your child in. Always check in with your child if it feels good.

GUESS THE ANIMAL

With your fingers, draw an animal on your child’s back. When you’re finished, let him guess what it is. If he doesn’t know, teach him to ask questions like, “Where does it live?” or “What sound does it make?” or “What color is it?” He’ll probably want you to do another one!

Tips:

You can play the same game with shapes, numbers and letters. Say the number or letter that follows or precedes the one you’re stroking on his back, for example: “This letter comes after D” or this is the number that comes before 10″ or “This is the letter between M and O.” Based on your child’s stage of development, you can make it harder or easier for him to guess.

THIS PIGGY WENT TO…….

Walk with your fingers up the back as you say “This little piggy went to…..”
As you stroke down with your whole hand, let your child fill in the blank with a place or person in her mind. For example: “This little piggy went to…..the zoo!” Or “This little piggy went to a playdate with…..?”

MAGIC PAINTING
(It’s magic, because you can’t see it!)

This is an imaginative game with lots of variations. Ask your child what he would like to have painted on his back. A tiger? A castle? Maybe he’d like to have a masterpiece painted on his back! Pretend your hand is a magic paintbrush. Dip it in your magic paint and paint your child’s back with your hands and fingertips. Stroke gently while you create a magical painting. You can also let your child guess what you’re painting while you mention the colors that you’re using.

Tip:
Your child might want to paint your back as well!

MARTINE GROENEVELD is a registered nurse, licensed massage therapist, certified infant massage instructor and the author of Mommy, Draw Stars on My Tummy: Rhymes, Songs and Touch-Play Activities to Stay Connected. A native of Holland, Martine holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and psychology and a National Certification in Massage Therapy.

Buy Mommy, Draw Stars on My Tummy

For more information, visit http://www.mommydrawstarsonmytummy.com