Am I alone, or is it shocking to anyone else that crib manufacturers can’t yet design safe cribs? Over 2 million cribs were recalled today (see list below) which makes me wonder, how hard could it possibly be to fuse four walls to a bottom base without creating a

deathtrap for children?

Nearly half of these cribs were manufactured 10 years ago. This means that hundreds of thousands of kids slept in these cribs for a decade before they were finally recalled.

• Bonavita, Babi Italia and ISSI Drop-Side Cribs Recalled (about 306,000 units)
• Bexco Enterprises, Inc., d.b.a. Million Dollar Baby Cribs Recalled (about 156,000 units)
• Simmons Juvenile Products Cribs Recalled (about 50,000 units)
• Jardine Drop-Side Cribs Recalled (about 130,000 units)
• Evenflo Recalls Drop-Side Cribs (about 750,000 units)
• Delta Recalls to Repair Drop-Side Cribs (about 747,000 units)
• Child Craft Brand Drop-Side Cribs Recalled (number unknown)
• Child Craft brand “Crib ‘N’ Double Bed” full size stationary-side cribs with dowel (about 40,000-50,000 units)

I’ll admit that I’ve run out of useful things to say about this topic after covering recalls on millions of cribs through the years and would love to hear what you think. Are we sacrificing safety for style, or is this the result of a major product testing/certification problem? Some feel we need to ban drop-side cribs, but truth be told…we can’t even depend on stationary-side cribs (see today’s Child Craft recall). Thanks for visiting baby fans, and don’t forget to leave your comments in the text box below!

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

Two recall warnings were released by the CPSC today, so I wanted to help spread the word because the crib is responsible for three infant deaths. Please follow the links below to learn more if either product looks familiar.

• Generation 2 Worldwide and “ChildESIGNS” drop side crib brands recalled (Three Infant Deaths Reported): Due to the fact that Generation 2 went out of business in 2005, CPSC has limited information about the cribs. Although CPSC does not know the total number of units distributed or the years of production, it is believed that there were more than 500,000 of these cribs sold to consumers. (see more)
• Innovage LLC recalls Discovery Kids lamps due to fire and burn hazards: A defect in the lamp’s printed circuit board can cause an electrical short, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. This recall involves the Discovery Kids(tm) Animated Marine Lamp with model number 1627121 or 1628626 and the Animated Safari Lamp with model number 1627124 or 1628626. (see more)

That’s it for today everyone. Please let me know if you have additional recall information from the last 48 hours by posting it in the comment box below.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

Although I’d prefer to highlight quality baby products, the CPSC has released two major recalls in the last 24 hours which shouldn’t be overlooked including:

• Graco Recalls Strollers (1.5 million units, due to fingertip amputation and laceration hazards): The hinges on the stroller’s canopy pose a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is opening or closing the canopy. This recall involves Graco Passage™, Alano™, and Spree™ Strollers and Travel Systems with the following model numbers and specific hinge mechanisms (recalled models)
• Dorel Asia Cribs Recalled (635,000 units, due to strangulation and suffocation hazard): One infant death reported, 10 injuries to infant. The drop side hardware can fail causing the drop side to detach from the crib. When the drop side detaches it creates a space in which an infant or toddler can become entrapped and suffocate or strangle.  (recalled models)

Be sure to check the model numbers if you use Graco strollers or Dorel Asia cribs because there were far too many recalled styles to fit into our graphic above.

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

Measuring a squirmy baby can be tough to do, so it would make good sense that it would be easier when he/she is sleeping. Thanks to Clare Chen’s fun “Baby Measuring Crib Fitted Sheets“, now you don’t even need a tape measure. Each fitted sheet is made of

100% cotton in seven different colors using environmentally-friendly (UNI color for textile) inks at Supermarket. What a cool gift idea!

Don’t forget everyone, babies should always sleep on their backs. Babies shown on their stomachs in ads are awake, and being directly observed by adults.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> tip thanks to Yanko Design

Infant entrapment and suffocation prompted Stork Craft to recall over 2.1 million drop-side cribs including 147,000 Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo this Monday, November 23rd.

According to the CPSC,

“The cribs’ drop-side plastic hardware can break, deform, or parts can become missing. In addition, the drop-side can be installed upside-down, which can result in broken or disengaged plastic parts. All of these problems can cause the drop-side to detach in one or more corners. When the drop-side detaches, it creates space between the drop-side and the crib mattress. The bodies of infants and toddlers can become entrapped in the space which can lead to suffocation. Complete detachment of drop-sides can lead to falls from the crib.

Major retailers in the United States and Canada sold the recalled cribs including BJ’s Wholesale Club, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Meijer, Sears, USA Baby, and Wal-Mart stores and online at Amazon.com, Babiesrus.com, Costco.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com from January 1993 through October 2009 for between $100 and $400. “

This recall involves Stork Craft drop-side cribs and Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. This does not involve cribs with metal rod drop-side hardware. It involves only those cribs with plastic trigger and one-hand-system drop-side hardware.

Please stop using the recalled cribs immediately and contact Stork Craft toll-free at (877) 274-0277 for the free repair kit, or learn more online at www.storkcraft.com.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> see official recall post at CPSC.gov

to a crib or stroller using Velcro straps (available in black or white straps) and turn it on to create a gentle side-to-side swaying movement.

Of course, there’s always a catch with clever products like this and Lolaloo has a few. First, you’ll need to attach Brio bed rockers to each of the four crib posts (available at Lolaloo.com) if you intend on using them in a standard crib. This probably wouldn’t be a deal-breaker for most parents, but I thought I should mention it because you won’t get much rocking action with most wooden cribs without them. The second catch is, they are only available in Germany. Their website says they’ll begin shipping globally soon, so I recommend revisiting their site in the next 3-4 weeks to see if global shipping has been launched.

So what do you think about this Lolaloo gadget parents? They appear to be featuring their use on strollers, but something tells me that the American market would prefer to use them on cribs. In a perfect world, they might even come with your crib as an accessory. Let me know what you think by typing in the text box below.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

If you’re a regular baby blog reader, you’ve probably run across Bloom’s Alma crib. Like all Bloom products, Alma is well-designed with modern styling and a hefty price tag of $400. So, how does Alma differ from a similar-looking crib from IKEA’s Hermelin which sells for $129? See the feature comparison below:

Alma by Bloom
- Price: $400
- Includes: Crib only. Mattress and bedlinens are sold separately.
- Materials: Solid birch wood, low VOC baby-safe finishes.
- Colors: Gala Green or Coconut White
- Dimensions and Weight: 37.25″ x 19.5″ x 32.75″, 50 pounds
- Assembly: Requires assembly, Allen Wrench included
- Key Features: Bed base can sit at two different heights. Compact-fold for easy storage and four lockable castor wheels which can be removed. Special attention to nontoxic materials.

Hermelin by IKEA
- Price: $129
- Includes: Crib only. Mattress and bedlinens are sold separately.
- Materials: Solid beech, tinted clear acrylic lacquer, fiberboard, molded beech plywood.
- Colors: Blue as shown above
- Dimensions and Weight: 53.5″ x 29.5″ x 32.75″, 52 pounds
- Assembly: Requires assembly, Allen Wrench included
- Key Features: Bed base can sit at two different heights. Crib can be converted to a daybed (by removing guardrail, conversion kit included) when the child is old enough to climb in and out of crib.

I’d love to hear your personal reviews of Bloom’s Alma or IKEA’s Hermelin if you’ve used (or reviewed) either one! To leave a comment, simply click on the comments bubble to open a text box below.

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

:::: Giveaway Closed, Stay Tuned for Winner! :::

This week’s giveaway is a 24 piece set of Wonder Bumpers worth $119 retail! As many parents already know, outfitting a crib can be a serious investment. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages using traditional bumper pads when babies begin moving in the crib (around 4+ months), so the team at Go Mama Designs developed the patent-pending safe alternative Wonder Bumpers. Not only are they easy to install and clean, Wonder Bumpers provide better air circulation than traditional bumpers and can be used by children of all ages! Giveaway details:

• Prize: One 24 piece set of Wonder Bumpers worth $119 retail. A great gift for the new or expecting parents on your baby shower gift list, all Wonder Bumpers are made with flame-retardant fabrics and lead-free zippers.
• To enter: leave a comment in this giveaway post (one per family please) with your favorite style found at the Wonder Bumpers website. If you win, this style will be sent to you!
• For a Double Entry: let us know in your comment if you posted about the contest or provided a link to the Dear Dr.MOZ baby blog (http://www.deardrmoz.com) from your blog or website and your chances of winning will double.

This is a global giveaway ending Sunday, February 15th at 6:00 pm PST. Dear Dr.MOZ is moderated throughout the day, so don’t worry if your entry isn’t instantly viewable.

Good luck!
Dr.MOZ

There have been so many natural parenting products hitting the market over the past year, it’s easy to forget that there still people out there working on the next big unnatural baby product. That wasn’t a typo, it really doesn’t get much more unnatural than the Suima Robotic Crib designed at Kyuushuu University in Japan. Unnatural features include:

•  Baby Cry Sensor: microphone built into the inside frame detects crying baby
• Automatic Sway: when cries are detected, the automatic sway movement is activated…mimicking a parent’s sway by moving the crib side-to-side every 1.8 seconds
• Safety Net: unlike the traditional crib with slats, the sides of the Suimia are lined with netting
• Remote Control: heaven forbid you have to actually move

Call me “oldschool”, but there’s a huge list of reasons why I wouldn’t use the Suima crib. Instead of pointing-out the obvious, I’d prefer to keep an eye on the comments section to see what you think. I’ll just close this post off with the fact that babies cry for quite a few good reasons…beyond being tired. Too bad the Suima crib doesn’t feature self-cleaning safety nets. Something tells me that there are a few new parents in Japan thinking the same thing right about now.

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

 > found at CrunchGear

for more natural finds see MapleBaby.com

(Update 9/11/08)

The CPSC is reporting that  the recent recall of Simplicity bassinets were extended to include some Graco bassinets and bassinets with the Winnie the Pooh brand motif.

The Simplicity bassinets with the Graco logos were sold between 2001 and 2004 while the Simplicity bassinets with the “Winnie the Pooh” designs were sold between 2002 and 2008.

• To CPSC’s Simplicity Bassinet Recall Update Post
• To Graco’s Recall Warning at the Graco Blog

Due to the serious hazard these bassinets pose to babies, CPSC urges all consumers to share this safety warning with day care centers, consignment stores, family and friends to ensure that no child is placed to sleep in one of these bassinets.

 -> Stop Using Graco Bassinet’s with the Following Model Numbers

3000 CL
3010HAV
3011WHE
3011WHK
3014NGS
3016LAU
3017NCB
3025C
3030SAR
3050SAR
3111DPC
3111ZOL
3112DOH
3122TGT
5730FKB
5750SAR
8393

If you are still in doubt about your bassinet after attempting to identify it with the model numbers above, please stop using it until you are completely sure that it is safe.

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

The CPSC released an alarming number of recall warnings over the past three days, so I wanted to provide a few links to help everyone stay current.

• Fisher-Price Recalls Learning Pots and Pans™ Toys Due to Choking Hazard
• Children’s Hooded Jackets with Drawstrings Recalled By Kids with Character Due to Strangulation Hazard
• Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Request Jeans Due to Strangulation Hazard
• Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Raw Blue Due to Strangulation Hazard
• Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards Recalls Cribs Due to Fall Hazard
• Baby Appleseed Recalls Cribs Due to Fall Hazard

The images above only cover a small number of the recalls, so please be sure to follow the links for a full list.

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

CPSC recalls have been rolling in over the past two weeks, so I wanted to post warnings released between June 10th and 25th. The images above only represent a small portion of

the recalls, so please select the links below to see the full list:

• Nordstrom Recalls Girls’ Sandals (Due to Choking Hazard)

• Jardine Cribs Sold by Babies”R”Us Recalled (Due to Entrapment and Strangulation Hazard)

• Wal-Mart Recalls Additional Charm Key Chains (Due to Risk of Lead Exposure)

• Children’s Overalls Recalled by Sara Lynn Togs (Due to Choking Hazard)

• Children’s Merry-Go-Rounds Sold Exclusively at Toys R Us Recalled by Pacific Cycle (Due to Fall Hazard)

• Backyard Leisure Recalls Swing Sets Due to Fall Hazard (Due to Fall Hazard)

• The Children’s Place Recalls Camouflage Pajama Sets (Due to Excessive Lead)

Comment on a recalled product by clicking on the bubble above to open the text box.

Have fun and stay healthy!

Dr.MOZ