Baby Carrier Recall

My new little one is already 15 pounds! I do get nervous about carrying him around in the baby carrier. I feel like he could get really hurt if the handle broke. I basically have to swing him up in the minivan to get the thing inside because it is so heavy. So this story made me worry a little. I usually take my kids out of the baby carrier by six months. So I only have two more months of this. I don't like switching them to the other car seat either. Then you have to wake them up every time you go somewhere. I guess it's a trade off. Although, it seems a little ridiculous that we would have to worry about the handle of the car seat breaking off!

Here's the recall:

(this link has the model numbers) FROM CPSC: WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Dorel Infant Car Seat/Carriers

Units: About 447,000

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

Hazard: When used as an infant carrier, the child restraint handle to the seat can loosen and come off, posing a fall hazard to infants.

Incidents/Injuries: Dorel has received 77 reports of the child restraint handle fully or partially coming off the car seat/carrier resulting in at least three injuries to infants including bumps, bruises and a head injury.

Description: This recall involves Safety 1st, Cosco, Eddie Bauer and Disney branded infant car seat/carriers with the following model numbers and that were manufactured from January 6, 2008 through April 6, 2009. The model number and manufacture date are located on a label on the side of the car seat/carrier. They were sold with Travel Systems. The stroller portion of the travel system is not affected by this recall.

Sold at: Department and juvenile product stores nationwide from January 2008 through December 2009 for between $120 and $220.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should not use the handle of the car seat/carrier until the repair kit has been installed. The product can continue to be used as a car seat when properly installed in the vehicle. Contact Dorel Juvenile Group to receive a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Dorel Juvenile Group at (866) 762-3316 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.djgusa.com/safety_notice

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Car Seat Story

Jen

My husband and I recently bought a new convertible car seat for our 9 month old daughter. The installation did not go well at all. We remembered the car seat safety reps from children's Hospital and my husband was able to take the car seat there to be installed. They even set up appointments to accommodate our work schedules. They can install the seat with seat belt or the LATCH system and will be sure its level, secure, etc. Can you post a reminder to parents that this service exists? I feel so much safer knowing that a professional installed my daughters car seat. The best part...its free!

Thanks!

Jessica

(First, I just want to point out the harnesses on the baby in this picture are way to high. They should be adjusted to fit right above her shoulders and this doesn't look like a 5 point harness! It's not surprising more than 90% of car seats are installed wrong!)

For information about the Illinois SAFE KIDS Coalition (Illinois) or the Mobile Car Seat Check Up Van, call the Illinois Department of Public Health at 217-782-3300.

safekids.org has a list of the next events scheduled.

If you can't make it to a scheduled event, call the Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria to set up a time. 309-671-4813

If you see someone with a child who is not restrained appropriately, take down the license plate and call this number: 888-800-2642

You can find the car seat check closest to you by going to AAA.com/safety.
AAA says car seats with a manufacturer's date before 2002 are too old to be safely used. My pumpkin seat from my first son was bought in 2003 and it has been used by four kids. That makes me a little nervous. My neighbor has one that is only 2 years old and she only used it for one child. So I am going to use that one instead! It has a really cushy headrest too. Hopefully this baby won't get plagiocephaly (flat spot.)

Fortunately, my husband went through the two day training to learn how to properly install a car seat. He works for AAA. He said there was a huge room with hundreds of different kinds of seats and they learned the best way to make each brand fit in different vehicles. It is quite a process!

Here's a better picture of a kid in a 5-point harness with the shoulder straps in the right place. Although he is forward facing and as we have mentioned, the AAP is now recommending kids stay rear facing until over 2-years old.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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UPDATE: CAR SEAT PICTURES AT THIS LINK

Free Car Seat Checks

A new survey shows most parents in Illinois don't know how to properly install a child car seat or what Illinois law requires. The AAA Auto Club Group survey shows 97% of parents don't know children in Illinois are required to use a child safety seat or booster until 8 years-old. 67% of parents surveyed weren't sure how to properly install a car seat.

Saturday, September 20th there are child seat safety checks being held across the state.
The Peoria event is at Green Chevrolet Hummer on the corner of Knoxville and Pioneer Parkway. It is from 12:00p.m.-4:00p.m.

You can find the car seat check closest to you by going to AAA.com/safety.
AAA says car seats with a manufacturer's date before 2002 are too old to be safely used.

I will never forget when I got laughed at by a family member because I had a police officer who was certified to install car seats put mine in. I was told I was being over-protective and I was obviously a new mom. Well, I'm not a new mom anymore and I always have someone certified install my car seats. I have seen too many people have them in wrong. My husband is now Car seat certified. That makes it a lot easier for us. He took a class in Chicago last year for work. He said there were hundreds of car seats and several different cars. It was like a puzzle trying to figure everything out.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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