Product recall lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm report of a recent recall initiated by Baby Matters LLC as part of a settlement with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The recall focuses on the Nap Nanny and Nap Nanny Chill infant recliners.
The problems with the Nap Nannies began in December 2012, when the CPSC filed an administrative complaint claiming the products had design defects that present significant safety risks to infants. Baby Matters, a now defunct company, recently reached a settlement with CPSC surrounding this product.
The settlement requires Baby Matters to set aside $13,000 to maintain a CPSC-approved website for at least five years as well as fund a social media outreach program notifying consumers who purchased these defective products. The website is napnanny.com. The settlement also prohibits the company and its former owner from manufacturing or distributing the Nap Nannies or their parts at any point in the future. The agreement does, however, release the former owner, Leslie Gudel, from any personal liability connected to the products.
Since 2009, the CPSC has received nearly 100 reports of incidents related to the Nap Nannies, including five deaths. Any consumers who currently own a Nap Nanny are encouraged to immediately stop using and dispose of it.
The injuries and deaths were caused by defects in the harness systems on the recliners. According to the CPSC, the harnesses did not stop children from climbing over the edge of the recliners, and infants were able to hang or fall over the side of the product, including some infants who were already restrained in the product’s harness.
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The Nap Nannies also came with warning labels that were largely insufficient, printed too small to read adequately, and placed at the bottom of the recliners, making it difficult for consumers to see. The CPSC complaint affirmed that the warnings and instructions were inadequate and defective because they did not and could not effectively communicate the hazard associated with the harness to parents and caregivers. If the harness is not used – or is not snugly secured around the infant – the child is able to climb over the edge and fall or become strangled in the harness.
About 165,000 Nap Nannies were sold between 2009 and 2012 for about $130 each at retailers such as Toys R Us/Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, Diapers.com, and Amazon. Consumers should contact the retailer from which they purchased the products for more information on how to obtain a refund.
Other children’s products recently subjected to recalls include H&M’s children’s water bottles, which were previously recalled in September 2012 as well. The water bottle’s spout can easily break off, posing a choking risk to children – there has been at least one report of this happening.
The 16-ounce bottles are blue or pink plastic with a crackle design. “H&M Sweden” and “www.hm.com” are printed on the bottom. They were sold from July 2012 to March 2013, for between $1.50 and $5. Nearly 3,000 water bottles are affected by the recall.
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Lea Industries also recently announced a major recall of nearly 60,000 children’s beds in loft and bunk styles. The side rails on these can break, posing a risk of falls. There have been about 22 incidents already reported in the U.S., two of which involved serious injuries. In one such instance, an 11-year-old girl was putting a sheet on the top bunk when the mattress and bed supports collapsed, falling on her six-year-old sister. The younger child was treated for head injuries and lacerations to her face.
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Product recall attorneys at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm will continue to report on any recalls, reports, and investigations into these types of products. If you or a loved one was seriously injured by a defective or dangerous product, you may be entitled to compensation for past and future medical bills, lost wage, and emotional distress.
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