Date: October 14th 2003

Baby Bargains E-News: Baby 411 co-author on TV show tomorrow, health updates, Graco playpen update


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BABY & TODDLER BARGAINS NEWS UPDATE: October 14, 2003
The free eNewsletter for the readers of BABY BARGAINS and TODDLER BARGAINS
http://www.BabyBargainsBook.com
October 14, 2003
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In this email:
1. Baby 411 co-author Dr. Brown on national TV tomorrow (Wed)!
2. Health update: sample the Baby 411 newsletter
3. More coupon deals: $400 in coupons for baby gear link..
4. Dorel settles class action lawsuit over cribs
5. SAFETY ALERT: Graco playpen, Yo-Yo water ball toys

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1. Baby 411 co-author Dr. Brown on national TV tomorrow (Wed)!

Great news! Baby 411 co-author Dr Ari Brown will be LIVE on the national TV talk show “Living it Up With Ali and Jack” tomorrow (Wednesday) October 15!

“Living It Up With Ali and Jack” is a new morning talk show that airs on CBS stations nationwide. To find what time the show airs in your area, click here:

http://www.aliandjack.com/04.asp

The show topic: how to deal with a toddler that bites! Dr. Brown will share her practical tips on how to deal with this common problem.

What is Baby 411? Well, it’s our brand-new book that is a practical Q&A for new parents. The reaction to the book from our readers has been fantastic! Check out the new book here:

http://www.Baby411.com

SPECIAL DEAL: Order both Baby Bargains and Baby 411 for just $27.97 and get FREE shipping. To order this, click here:

https://windsorpeak.com/orderform14.html

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2. Health update: sample the Baby 411 newsletter

Speaking of Baby 411, have you signed up for our separate Baby 411 newsletter? It has monthly updates with the latest news on infant health. Wonder about those scary studies you hear in the media? We discuss what they really mean and whether you should be concerned.

To sign up for the Baby 411 newsletter (it’s free of course!), click here:

http://www.windsorpeak.com/baby411/newsletter.html

Here is October’s newsletter:

Here's the 411 on babies this month.

1. A great study showing NO link between vaccines and
autism

The September issue of the journal, Pediatrics,
published a study done on all Danish children between
1991-2000. Thimerisol, a mercury containing product,
was removed from vaccines in Denmark in 1992. In fact,
the rates of autism began to skyrocket AFTER the
thimerisol was removed!

Bottom line: The rising rates of autism are concerning
to everyone, but there is no data to show that
vaccines are the cause.

2. Flame retardant found in breast milk
Two studies, both with small numbers of women (20 and
47), showed that a flame retardant called PBDE
(polybrominated diphenyl ethers) was found in breast
milk. Breast milk contains this chemical because PBDE
deposits in body fat---and breast milk is about 50% fat. The
level found in American women was 10 to 100 times
greater than that found in European women. Not too
surprising since Europe has been trying to phase out
use of PDBE. There is no known effect of PDBE on
humans, but laboratory mice seem to have memory and
behavior problems.

Bottom line: An interesting study, but no cause to
stop breastfeeding. Many environmental exposures occur
to babies(including PBDE) even if they are not
breastfed. Scary to think about everything we are
exposed to!

3. Early introduction of cereals and risk of diabetes
Two studies published in October's JAMA (Journal of
the American Medical Association) showed a possible
increase in the rate of type 1 diabetes (insulin
dependent) in HIGH risk infants who were fed rice
cereal PRIOR to four months of age. The studies looked
at babies who either had the genetic abnormality
associated with diabetes or who had a family member
with diabetes.

Bottom Line: Another interesting study, which will
have more merit if more studies show similar results.
Also, these studies were done on infants already at
high risk of developing diabetes-not the general
population. Most pediatricians recommend introducing
cereal at 4-6 months of age- which would not change
based on this study. The only concern is the common
recommendation to add rice cereal to thicken feedings
for an infant who has gastroesophageal reflux.

4. Get your flu shots everyone!

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all
infants six months of age or older receive the flu
vaccine as they are at higher risk of developing
complications from the flu.

Household members with a newborn or infant in the
house should also receive the flu vaccine to keep the
virus out of their house!

Pregnant women who are in their 2nd or 3rd trimester
can and should get the flu vaccine too.

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4. Dorel settles class action lawsuit over cribs

Dorel Juvenile Group Settles Class Action Suit

CHICAGO, Oct. 06 /PRNewswire/ --

CHICAGO, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc., a Columbus, Indiana-based manufacturer of juvenile products, and Counsel for a Class comprised of certain of Dorel Juvenile Group's customers today announced that they have reached an agreement to settle a class action lawsuit challenging the sale of full size baby cribs with ten-spindle mattress platforms. Plaintiffs allege that the crib design was unsafe for infant use. Dorel Juvenile Group strongly denies such allegations. The units in question were manufactured between 1994 and 1998. Under terms of the settlement, whose fairness was preliminarily evaluated by the Court on August 26, 2003, purchasers of these cribs will be eligible to receive either a crib repair kit or a manufacturer's rebate coupon of $55.00 redeemable with proof of purchase of any Dorel Juvenile Group product. In addition, the Dorel Juvenile Group will donate $1 million in current juvenile inventory product to one or more yet to be agreed upon children's charities.

For more information or to receive the official settlement notice and claim forms, please contact the following:

Chaney Settlement Administration P.O. Box 824 Columbus, IN 47202 Phone: 1-800-630-6735

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5. SAFETY ALERT: Graco playpen, Yo-Yo water ball toys


This email contains the following information:

1. CPSC, Graco Children's Products Announce New Safety Instructions to Prevent Injuries with Portable Play Yards with Raised Changing Tables
2. CPSC Announces Results of Investigation of Yo-Yo Water Ball Toys

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2003
Release # 03-188 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Scott Wolfson, (301) 504-7051

Commission Levies $1.5 Million In Penalties

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that it has settled three civil penalty cases and imposed penalties totaling $1.5 million.

Two of the settlements, with Brunswick Corp., of Lake Forest, Ill., and Murray Inc., of Brentwood, Tenn., resolve allegations that the firms failed to report, in a timely manner, defects in their products that could create a substantial product hazard or an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. Blue Coral-Slick 50 Inc., of Houston, Texas, has agreed to a penalty for failing to package some of its windshield products in child-resistant packaging.

"If in doubt, companies should always report any and all information to the Commission that could affect the safety of consumers," said Chairman Hal Stratton. "Companies that fail to take such an approach expose themselves to the risk of civil penalties." Brunswick agreed to a $1 million civil penalty. The Commission alleged that Brunswick was not timely in reporting that it had learned of 31 serious incidents involving defective forks on its Mongoose and Roadmaster bicycles. The forks broke apart during normal use of the bicycles and caused riders to lose control, fall to the ground face first, and suffer serious facial and head injuries. The company conducted three recalls with CPSC between May 2000 and April 2002, each time increasing the number of defective units recalled and identifying additional injuries to riders from the increased number of bicycles recalled. The final announcement brought the total number of bicycles involved in the recall to 103,000.

Murray agreed to $375,000 in civil penalties to settle the Commission's allegation that between November 2000 and February 2002, Murray received over 900 reports of riding lawn mower gas tanks cracking and leaking fuel, resulting in six fires and one burn injury. The company failed to inform CPSC of the incidents and safety hazards on its rear-engine and mid-engine riding lawn mowers, as required by the Consumer Product Safety Act. In March 2002, Murray agreed to a recall of nearly 100,000 lawnmowers sold under the Murray, Murray Select, Craftsman and Wizard brand names.

The $150,000 penalty against Blue Coral-Slick 50 Inc. represents the first civil penalty the CPSC has imposed against a company for violating the Poison Prevention Packaging Act.

The allegations against Blue Coral-Slick 50 were that between September 1997 and May 2001, the firm distributed about one million bottles and pouches of Rain-X® Super Glass Cleaner Concentrate, Rain-X® Washer Fluid Additive and Rain-X® Plus Washer Fluid Concentrate without child resistant closures, as required under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. The PPPA guidelines call for all household products with more than 4% methanol to be packaged in child resistant containers. The product solution contained a hazardous level of methanol (6%) and did not use the proper safety packaging. The Rain-X glass cleaner and washer fluid were recalled in September 2001.

In agreeing to settle these cases, the three companies denied that they knowingly violated the federal statutes regulated by the Commission.

To see pictures or to link to this press release: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03188.html

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2003
Release # 03-189 Graco's Recall Hotline: (800) 233-1546
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contacts: Nychelle Fleming (301) 504-7063 & Ken Giles (301) 504-7052
Graco Media Contact: Coyne Public Relations (973) 316-1665

CPSC, Graco Children's Products Announce New Safety Instructions to Prevent Injuries with Portable Play Yards with Raised Changing Tables

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Graco Children's Products Inc., of Exton, Pa., is providing new instructions for about 538,000 "Pack 'n Play" portable play yards with raised changing tables. When children are placed in these portable play yards when the changing table is still in place, they can crawl under and lift the table up. If this occurs, a child's head and neck can become trapped between the changing table and the play yard rail, causing a strangulation hazard. The recall is designed to warn consumers of this hazard, and to provide warning labels to affix to the changing tables.

The commission and Graco are aware of the death of a 13-month-old girl, who strangled when her neck became trapped between the Pack 'n Play rail and the raised changing table.

Only "Pack 'n Play" portable play yards with raised changing tables are part of this recall. They also are sold with an infant bassinet. "GRACO" and "Pack 'n Play" are written on the side of the play yard. These play yards have model numbers 2016, 35235, or model numbers that begin with 9531 or 9533. The last three digits of the model number will vary. The model number can be found on a label on the white plastic center cone under the play yards. "MADE IN CHINA" also is written on the bottom label. Models 2016, 35235, 9531 and 9533 that are currently sold at retail and that have green stickers on the boxes, indicating that the unit has been modified, are not recalled.

Discount, department and juvenile product stores nationwide sold these portable play yards from October 2001 through September 2003 for between $99 and $119.

Consumers should never place a child in these portable play yards when the changing table is still in place. Consumers should immediately contact Graco to receive a free warning label to be affixed to the changing table. Consumers can contact Graco at (800) 233-1546 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site at www.gracobaby.com

To see pictures or to link to this press release: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03189.html

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2003
Release # 03-190 CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles (301) 504-7052

CPSC Announces Results of Investigation of Yo-Yo Water Ball Toys

WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission believes there is a low but potential risk of strangulation from the yo-yo water ball toy. The stretchy cord of the toy can wrap around a child's neck when the child swings the toy overhead like a lasso. Parents who are concerned about this risk could, in addition to closely supervising the use of this toy, cut the cord off the toy (leaving a squishy toy ball for children to play with) or throw the toy away.

The Commission has received 186 reports of incidents in which the yo-yo ball toy's cord wrapped around a child's neck. In all cases, a parent or child successfully removed the cord from the child's neck. Although there were no lasting injuries, seven cases reported broken blood vessels affecting eyes, eyelids, cheeks, neck, scalp or the area behind the ears. CPSC staff realizes that the reported incidents are uncomfortable and anxiety-provoking events for children and adults. However, based on information currently available, the CPSC staff has concluded that the toy poses a low risk of strangulation, especially for younger children. Based on the pattern of incidents, the number of products involved, the low likelihood of strangulation, and the technical staff's assessment of the risk of injury presented by the product, the yo-yo water ball toy does not meet congressionally mandated standards for product recall.

The Commission also investigated reports of potential toxicity from the liquid inside the toy and flammability from a flame test of the yo-yo ball toy. CPSC staff found no toxicity or flammability concerns.

We believe that parents should exercise caution in allowing children to play with this toy, said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. The Commission will continue to monitor incidents involving the yo-yo waterball toy.

Based on information from industry sources, CPSC believes that over the last year, there have been approximately 11-15 million yo-yo ball toys distributed in the U.S., selling for between $1 and $5. The toys are made of rubber-like material and consist of a liquid-filled ball with a stretchy cord that has a small finger loop at the end. The cord is highly elastic and can be stretched to more than three feet.

CPSC is aware that some major retailers (for example, Toys R Us, Walgreen's, and Saks) have unilaterally stopped selling the yo-yo ball toys

To see pictures or to link to this press release: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03190.html


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That’s the news from here,
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Alan & Denise Fields, authors
BABY BARGAINS * BABY 411 * TODDLER BARGAINS * BRIDAL BARGAINS * CYBERBRIDE * YOUR NEW HOUSE
Web: www.windsorpeak.com.
Email: authors@windsorpeak.com
Phone: 303-442-8792
Address: Windsor Peak Press, 436 Pine Street, Boulder, CO 80302

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