According to Babynews.com, as well as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there has been a voluntary recall of about 1 million play yards from various companies. The following products have been recalled: Kolcraft, Carter’s, Sesame Street, Jeep, Contours, Care Bear and Eric Carle Play Yards. Their distributor is Kolcraft Enterprises Inc. of Chicago, Illinois.
Apparently, the play yard’s side rail can fail to latch properly and when a child pushes against the rail it can unlatch unexpectedly, posing a fall hazard to children. Some of the units have a bassinet and/or changing table, and some models have a mobile, vibrating unit or a parent organizer. Model numbers are printed on a white sticker on one of the feet of the play yard. So far, the firm has received 347 reports of sides of the play yard collapsing unexpectedly, resulting in 21 injuries to young children, including bumps, scrapes, bruises and one concussion.
All of these products are sold at Babies R Us, Walmart, Kmart, Sears, Target and other stores nationwide and internet retailers from January 2000 through January 2009. They usually cost between $50 and $160, and are manufactured in China, Spain and Italy.
In order to protect our babies, consumers should immediately stop using the play yard and contact Kolcraft for a free repair kit. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Kolcraft toll-free at (866) 594-4208 anytime or visit the firm’s website at www.kolcraft.com.