Nearly 3500,000 Playtex Products’ Hip Hammock infant carriers have been recalled because the buckles can crack or break, posing a fall hazard to the child being carried, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.
Playtex has received 87 reports of buckles cracking or breaking, including two reports of injuries. The CPSC says one infant required emergency room treatment.
The Playtex Hip Hammock straps the baby’s body against the caregiver’s body at the hip. The carrier–for use with babies who weigh 15 to 35 pounds–is made of soft, quilted fabric; the straps wrap around the caregiver’s hips and shoulder. The words “Playtex Hip Hammock” are printed on a label on the front of the carrier and the model number is found on an inside panel below the instructions for use. All models of the carrier are being recalled. The models numbers are 05300, 05301, 05302, 05306, 05307 and 05308. The recall includes about 305,000 carriers sold in the United States and 36,000 sold in Canada.
The carrier was sold at Burlington Coat Factory, Target, Walmart, juvenile product, baby, and discount stores nationwide, and it was sold online at Amazon.com from June 2004 through December 2008 (January 2010 in Canada) for about $40 for the basic model and $60 for the deluxe model.
The CPSC advises consumers to stop using the carrier and contact Playtex for return instructions and a full refund. Playtex may be reached by telephone, toll-free, at 1.800.522.8230 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time (ET), Monday through Friday or online at www.playtexproducts.com (click on Recall for more information.
