Date: March 12th 2003

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BABY & TODDLER BARGAINS NEWS UPDATE: March 12, 2003
The free eNewsletter for the readers of BABY BARGAINS and TODDLER BARGAINS
http://www.BabyBargainsBook.com
March 12, 2003
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In this email:

1. Graco Snug Ride Recall
2. Britax Marathon “problem”
3. Coupon deals: save $350 at Baby News Stores
4. Reader poll: Give us your opinion on your next book’s cover
5. Reminder: new edition of BABY BARGAINS to debut in April!
6. Recalls: Evenflo portable crib, board books, plush toys, 1st Years Tub (new instructions),


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Hello! Breaking news today on the popular Graco Snug Ride infant seat. Here’s the round-up.

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1. Graco Snug Ride Recall

Graco has recalled their Snug Ride infant seat (see details below).

Our take: Yep, this is the second recall in less than a year on the seat because some of the bases are missing certain parts. Are we disappointed that Graco has done it again? Yes. However, we still recommend this seat. No injuries have been associated with these recalls and Graco has moved to quickly (and voluntarily) recall these seats to catch the problem. So, when the seats return to the shelves shortly, we’ll still recommend them in our book, BABY BARGAINS. We hope Graco can keep a better eye on quality control, however.


Graco Announces Voluntary Recall of Stand-Alone SnugRide Infant Car Seats
Equipped with Base

Exton, Pa., March 12, 2003 … Graco Children's Products today announced a voluntary recall of 650,000 stand-alone SnugRide infant car seats equipped with a base manufactured in the USA between March 1, 2002 and March 6, 2003. SnugRide infant car seats sold as part of a travel system (stroller/infant carrier/car-seat base combination), or stand-alone units made in China, are not affected by this recall.

The models affected include: 8402, 8412, 8442, 8442L, 8443, 8443L, 8444, 8444L, 8446, 8446L, 8447, 8447L, 8448, 8448L, 8457, 8458, 8459, 8601, 8463, 8464, 8470, 8471, 8478 and C844342.

Graco has determined that a small number of SnugRide infant car seats may have missing hardware used to attach the carrier to the base. If the hardware is missing, the carrier may not be securely attached to the base. In the event of a sudden stop or accident, the carrier may detach from the base, possibly resulting in serious injury or death. To date, no injuries have been reported or linked to this issue.

Consumers with Graco SnugRide infant car seats manufactured in the USA between March 1, 2002 and March 6, 2003 should visit the Graco website at www.gracobaby.com to determine if their unit is affected, or contact Graco at 1-866-473-0163.

The infant carrier may be used in the car without the base. For proper instructions on installing the carrier in the car without the base, please consult the instruction manual for the unit, which was included in the original packaging. Installation instructions are also available online at www.gracobaby.com.

When calling the company, consumers should have the model number and date of manufacture of the car seat readily available. This information is located on a label, which is adhered to the car seat or base.

Consumers with questions about this recall campaign can also call NHTSA's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236 or visit NHTSA's web site: www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
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2. Britax Marathon problem.

Some readers have reported problems adjusting the straps with Britax Marathon car seats that were made in 2002. This problem has since been corrected and the current Marathon seats sold today don’t have this issue. See this link for a discussion of the issue on our message boards:

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dcforum/DCForumID6/1596.html



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3. Coupon deals: save $350 at Baby News Stores

Kudos to the Baby News Stores for their new coupon program, which can save parents up to $350. How does it work? First you click on this web page and pop in your zip code:

http://www.babynewsstores.com/best4baby/

Deals include $20 off a Peg perego high chair, $20 off the Britax Roundabout or $70 off a Pali crib and changer, among others. The coupons expire March 31, 2003.


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4. Reader poll: Give us your opinion on your next book’s cover.

Yes, we have ANOTHER new book coming out this fall---BABY 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for your Baby's First Year. We need your help on the cover. Tell us what you think by participating in this reader poll. Details and a picture of the cover are here:

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dcforum/DCForumID30/877.html


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5. Reminder: new edition of BABY BARGAINS to debut in April!

Have you ordered the new edition of BABY BARGAINS yet? If not, remember the SPECIALS on the new book only for a limited time. Click here for details on the new book:

http://www.babybargainsbook.com/babybargains/newedition.html

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6. Recalls


CPSC, Hufco-Delaware Company and Evenflo Company Inc. Announce Recall to Repair Gerry® and Evenflo® Portable Wood Cribs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hufco-Delaware Company, of Miamisburg, Ohio, and Evenflo Company Inc., of Vandalia, Ohio, are recalling about 364,000 portable wood cribs. If the hardware used to assemble the crib is not tight, the mattress support platform and mattress can fall to the floor. This poses a risk of injury to young children in the crib.

There have been 41 reports of mattresses falling through portable wood cribs. Of these incidents, 17 children suffered bumps, bruises or scratches.

The portable cribs are made of wood and are smaller than traditional baby cribs. The majority of these portable wood cribs were sold under the Gerry® brand name, and some were sold under the Evenflo® brand name. The recalled portable wood cribs have one of the following model numbers that can be found on a label on the mattress platform underneath the mattress:


8212
8222
8232
8242
8252
8282

8301
8302
8311
8312
8321
8322
8331

8332
8341
8342
8351
8352
8381
8382

8512
8522
8532
8542
8552
8582

8712
8752


Department and baby products stores nationwide sold these portable wood cribs from January 1991 through December 2002 for about $99.

Consumers should stop using these portable wood cribs immediately, and call (800) 582-9359 anytime for a free upgrade kit that provides additional support for the mattress platform. Consumers also can obtain further information about the portable wood cribs by logging onto www.evenflo.com (eventually this link will also be at www.portablewoodcrib.com).

No other cribs are included in this recall.




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CPSC, Random House, Inc. Announce Recall of Children's Board Book Sets


WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Random House Inc., of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 360,000 children's board book sets. The book sets were sold in cardboard boxes with plastic snaps. The plastic snaps can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

CPSC and Random House have not received any reports of injuries involving these book sets. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.

The boxed sets included in the recall have children's characters on the front of the box, a colored plastic handle and plastic snaps. The book set titles are "MONSTERS TO GO!," "DISNEY PRINCESS - DISNEY THE PRINCESS COLLECTION 2," "DISNEY'S WINNIE THE POOH - A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS," and "BARBIE - MY BARBIE FUN BOX." Each book set contains four board books inside. Only book sets with plastic snaps are included in the recall. Book sets with metal snaps are not part of the recall.

Book, discount department stores and online retailers sold the recalled books nationwide from August 2002 through January 2003 for about $10.

Consumers should immediately cut off the lid of the box with the plastic snaps and throw away the rest of the box. Send the lid with the plastic snaps to Tri-State, c/o Anthony Armetta, 325 Rabro Drive, Hauppauge, NY 11788 to receive a free replacement book set, and a refund for postage. For additional information contact Random House at (800) 805-8534 ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's web site at www.randomhouse.com


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CPSC, The Betesh Group Announce Recall of "Busy Bug" Plush Toys

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Betesh Group of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 11,200 "Busy Bug" plush toys. The antennae of the plush toy can be chewed or pulled off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

CPSC and The Betesh Group have received two reports of children gagging on the fabric antennae ends that separated from the toy.

The recalled toy is a small plush bug with two springy black antennae with orange round fabric ends. The bug has a blue stuffed round face with a red musical nose that blinks when pressed. The body of the bug is segmented in various colors and patterns. Striped elastic legs are attached to the body along with crinkly, iridescent wings. "Smart Scents," and "Made In China" are printed on a label on the side of the bug. The UPC code 778267862920 is on the packaging.

Discount department stores sold these recalled toys from August 2002 through January 2003 for about $7.

Consumers should take the plush toys away from young children and return to the place of purchase or mail the toy to The Betesh Group at One East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016, Att: Consumer Relations, to receive a refund including postage. For additional information, contact Betesh toll free at (866) 473-0118 anytime.



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CPSC, The First Years® Inc. Announce New Safety Instructions to Prevent Injuries for Combo Baby Tubs/Step Stools

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The First Years Inc., of Avon, Mass., is providing a new instruction sheet for 120,000 "2-In-1 Fold-Away Tub and Step Stools." When used as a tub, babies' body parts can be pinched if the product's footrest is not fully extended so that it clicks into place firmly.

CPSC and The First Years have received 20 reports of babies being pinched while using these tubs, including one bruising of a baby boy's genitalia and 10 reports of abrasions to toes and feet. This recall to replace the stools' instructions is being conducted to prevent further incidents.

These "2-In-1 Fold-Away Tub and Step Stools," have model number 3141 written on the underside of the base. The product is a folding baby bathtub that can be used as a step stool for an older child. In the step stool position, the top of the turquoise lid has raised lettering stating "the first years" followed near the bottom of the lid with the two statements, "MAXIMUM LOAD/POIDS MAXIMUM: 200lbs/90kg" and "USE ONLY ON A LEVEL SURFACE. N'UTILISER QUE SUR UNE SURFACE PLANE." In the bathtub position, the seat back has a purple pad. The base and footrest are both white. Also, on the underside of the base is a tiny raised clock showing the year of manufacture of the product (i.e., "9_9") surrounded by the numbers of the clock. Only products bearing date codes 1999 and 2000 ("9_9" or "0_0") are included in this program.

Mass merchants nationwide sold these bathtub/stools between January 1999 and February 2002 for about $17.

Consumers should not use the bathtub until they receive revised instructions on the use of the tub to prevent the pinching hazard. Consumers should contact The First Years at (800) 533-6708 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to receive free revised instructions and a warning label to attach to the product. Consumers can also visit the firm's web site at www.thefirstyears.com



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That’s the news from here! Thanks for reading our book, BABY BARGAINS.

--
Alan & Denise Fields, authors
BABY BARGAINS * TODDLER BARGAINS
Web: www.windsorpeak.com.
Email: authors@windsorpeak.com

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