CAR SEAT AND STROLLER RECALLS

By Miriam Raftery

January 22, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of some models of Britax infant car seats due to fall hazards, as well as Britax strollers due to a choking hazard. Below are details from the USPSC:

1. CPSC, NHTSA and Britax Announce Recall of Infant Car Seats Due to Fall Hazard

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/CPSC-NHTSA-and-Britax-Announce-Recall-of-Infant-Car-Seats/

2. Britax Recalls Strollers and Replacement Top Seats Due to Choking Hazard

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/Britax-Recalls-Strollers-and-Replacement-Top-Seats/

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1. Recall Date: January 21, 2016

Recall Number: 16-081

CPSC, NHTSA and Britax Announce Recall of Infant Car Seats Due to Fall Hazard

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/CPSC-NHTSA-and-Britax-Announce-Recall-of-Infant-Car-Seats/

Recall Summary

Name of Product: Britax B-Safe 35 and B-Safe 35 Elite infant car seats and travel systems

Hazard: The car seat carry handle can crack and break allowing the seat to fall unexpectedly, posing a risk of injury to the infant.

Remedy: Repair

Consumers should immediately stop carrying the car seat by the handle until the repair is installed. All consumers who have previously registered their product with Britax will automatically receive a free repair kit. To register to receive a repair kit or verify registration, visit www.bsafe35recall.com. Consumers can continue to use the car seat when secured in a vehicle or on a stroller.

Consumer Contact: Britax at 800-683-2045 from 8:30 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET on Friday, or by email at Britax.Recall@britax.com. Consumers can also visit the firm’s website atwww.us.Britax.com and click on “Safety Notice” at the top right of the page.

Recall Details

Photos available at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/CPSC-NHTSA-and-Britax-Announce-Recall-of-Infant-Car-Seats/

Units: About 71,000 units (in addition 3,900 units were sold in Canada and 990 units in Mexico)

Description: This recall involves Britax B-Safe 35 and B-Safe 35 Elite infant car seat and travel systems manufactured between October 1, 2014 and July 1, 2015. The product can be used as a rear-facing only car seat and as an infant carrier. The car seat/carriers have a canopy, black shell and base, and were sold in a variety of colors. The Britax logo is printed on both sides of the seat shell and on the carry handle grip. Model numbers and the date of manufacture (DOM) are printed on a label located at the back of the infant car seat/carrier shell.

Models included in the recall are:

Incidents/Injuries: Britax has received 74 reports of handles developing fractures, cracks and/or breaking while in use, including one report of an infant who received a bump on the head when the carrier fell to the ground.

Sold at: Babies R Us, buybuy BABY, Target and other stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, Diapers.com and other online retailers from November 2014 to January 2016 for between $210 and $250.

Importer/Distributor: Britax Child Safety Inc., of Fort Mill, S.C.

Manufactured in: U.S.

Note: Health Canada's press release is available at: http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2016/56686r-eng.php

Mexico’s press release is available at: http://profeco.gob.mx/verificacion/alertas_nvo.asp

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2. Recall Date: January 21, 2016

Recall Number: 16-080

Britax Recalls Strollers and Replacement Top Seats Due to Choking Hazard

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/Britax-Recalls-Strollers-and-Replacement-Top-Seats/

Recall Summary

Name of Product: Britax B-Ready strollers

Hazard: The foam padding on the stroller’s arm bar can come off in fragments if the child bites the arm bar, posing a choking hazard.

Remedy: Repair

Consumers should immediately remove the arm bar from recalled strollers and replacement top seats and contact Britax for a free black, zippered arm bar cover and a warning label to apply to the strollers and replacement top seats. Consumers can continue to use their strollers without the arm bar attached.

Consumer Contact: Britax at 800-683-2045 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET on Friday, by email at Britax.Recall@britax.com or online at www.us.britax.com and click on Safety Notice at the top right, or                   www.B-ReadyRecall.com for more information.

Recall Details

Photos available at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/Britax-Recalls-Strollers-and-Replacement-Top-Seats/

Units: About 49,000 in the U.S. (in addition, 11,000 were sold in Canada)

Description: This recall involves Britax B-Ready strollers and B-Ready replacement top seats that were sold separately. The B-Ready strollers have a silver or black frame with a solid-colored top seat in a variety of colors. The Britax logo is on the stroller’s side hinges and foot rest.        B-Ready is printed on the sides of the stroller frame.  The stroller’s model number and date of manufacture are printed on a label on the stroller’s frame between the front wheels or on the inside frame that connects to the back right wheel. The replacement top seats were sold separately in a variety of colors and fit into the stroller’s frame. The replacement top seat’s model number and date of manufacture are printed on a black label on the right side tube above the adjuster button, under the fabric cover.

Model numbers and dates of manufacture included in this recall are as follows:

Incidents/Injuries: Britax has received 117 reports of children biting the arm bar foam padding, including five reports of children choking or gagging on foam fragments.

Sold at: Babies R Us, buybuy Baby, Target and other stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, Diapers.com and other websites from April 2010 through January 2016 for about $500 for the stroller. The replacement top seats were sold by Britax from April 2010 through January 2016 for about $150.

Importer/Distributor: Britax Child Safety Inc., of Fort Mill, S.C.

Manufactured in: China