Baby Bargains Book Blog

Missing review: Carter's crib bedding

Due to a production error, we deleted a review of Carter's crib bedding from our most recent book. Here it is:

Carter’s (Kidsline) Call (310) 660-0110 for a dealer near you. Web: carters.kidslineinc.com/products . Kids Line is now producing the Carter’s line of bedding (with a separate web site at carters.kidsline.com). Kids Line has given the Carter’s bedding a much needed style-upgrade—there are six complete collections as well as a baby basics mix and match line. A four-piece set is priced at $180. Sheets ($11-15 each) are 200 thread-count, 100% cotton and quite a step up from the old Carter’s sheets we reviewed in the past. Kids Line has definitely improved both the quality and design. Rating: B

RECALL: Eddie Bauer Play Yards with Rocking Bassinets

	NEWS from CPSC and HC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission www.cpsc.gov		Health Canada    www.hc-sc.gc.ca

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2009 Release # 09-219

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (888) 233-4903 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 HC Media Contact: (613) 957-2983

Eddie Bauer Play Yards with Rocking Bassinets Recalled by Dorel Juvenile Group Due to Suffocation Hazard

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

Name of Product: Eddie Bauer Soothe & Sway Play Yards

Units: About 71,000 in the United States and about 5,600 in Canada

Distributor: Dorel Juvenile Group Inc., of Columbus, Ind.

Hazard: The play yard’s rocking bassinet attachment can tilt when secured by straps (non-rocking mode) which can cause it to stay tilted without returning to a level sleeping surface while in the rocking mode. The tilted sleeping surface can cause an infant to roll to the corner or side of bassinet and become wedged in the corner or pressed against the side or bottom of the bassinet. This presents a risk of suffocation or positional asphyxiation.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm and CPSC have received 10 reports of infants rolling to one side, including 6 that had their faces pressed against the side or the bottom of the bassinet. One child reportedly was turning purple and was out of breath when discovered. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Eddie Bauer Soothe & Sway portable play yards. The convertible play yard has a bassinet and changing station feature. A mobile with three teddy bears was also sold with the play yard. Models included in the recall are 05046 (all units) and 05044 units manufactured before December 1, 2008. Different models were sold in Canada. Model numbers and manufacture dates are printed on a sticker on one of the support legs underneath the play yard. Manufacture dates are printed in the YY/MM/DD format.

Sold at: Target, Sears, and Burlington Coat Factory stores nationwide and Internet retailers from January 2008 through May 2009 for about $150.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the bassinet attachment of the play yard and contact Dorel Juvenile Group for a $40 voucher toward the purchase of a new Dorel product. Consumers can continue using the play yard.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Dorel Juvenile Group toll-free at (888) 233-4903 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. EST Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.djgusa.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release can be seen at http://209.217.71.106/PR/recall-retrait-e.jsp?re_id=745

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

Baby Bargains now available as a Kindle ebook!

Yes, we have joined the digital age: BABY BARGAINS is now available as a Kindle ebook. Now you can wirelessly download a copy of our book to your Kindle for a special low price: $9.99.

The Kindle ebook has all the baked-in goodness of our regular book, plus some neat-o interactive features:

• Live links. When we talk about a web site that offers great deals, you can click on the text and zap! You are transported to the site. (We know, you have been doing this online since 1997, but it is new to books).

• Search across the entire book. Want to find all mentions of Britax in our book? The Kindle lets you do a book-wide search. 

• Sync it to your iphone. You are out at Babies R Us, but forgot your book? You can use Amazon's free iphone app to read product reviews from BABY BARGAINS on your iphone. And it syncs where you left off in the text.

If you've got a Kindle, let us know what cool features you like about the device!

Peg quotes stroller weight . . . without wheels?

Reader Jessica N. writes in today with a funny story:

Hello,
I am a fan of your books so I thought I'd go to the experts to help advise consumers of this problem and maybe even help change it. I was at Babies R Us comparing the Combi strollers with the Peg Perego Aria OH. The Peg is advertised as lightweight and the specs say it's 10lbs but when my husband, the store employee and myself held both, the Peg was noticably heavier than the Combis whose specs were shown as over 11lbs. 

Because I like the Peg so much I looked up their website and it clearly states that it's 10lbs. Not wanting to give up I gave them a call and asked them if maybe they were listing the weight without the canopy and basket (like the Maclarens do on their website). The lady told me no but she could weigh it for me. She came back and told me that she "stands corrected" and the Peg is weighing in at 12.9 and the 10lbs listed on their specs is without the tires and snack tray. (But canopy and basket is included) 

I find it rediculous that a company would list their weight without the tires!! And outright deceiving when they don't mention that anywhere on their website. As an individual consumer I don't think I have much power to change the company so I am hoping that you can have some pull in the matter. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Our thoughts on this: stroller weight deflation has been a long time game in the baby product biz. The reason is simple: stroller makers know parents want the lightest weight model available. So some stroller makers quote weights by leaving off certain parts of the stroller---most disclose this, however. As Jessica points out, at least Maclaren discloses their weights don't include the canopy.

But Peg has hit a new low: quoting a weight for a stroller without wheels! And snack tray!