Friends who get lead poisoning together, stay together.

Claire’s Boutiques is recalling about 67,000 of its Best Friends Yin Yang Necklaces Sets, after it was found that the necklaces contain high levels of lead. Since we were one of those weirdos in school that liked to chew on our necklace while bored in math class, we can see how that might be a problem. The necklaces were sold at Claire’s stores nationwide between April 2007 through August 2008 and retailed for around $8.

Parents should take away the necklaces from their kids (and their BFF) and return it to Claire’s for a refund.

Bookmark to:
    

It’s funny! It’s realistic! It’s poisonous!

The latest lead-tainted toy from the Far East is OKK Trading’s Mini-Televisor toy TV. Sold on OKK Trading’s website for about a buck, the toy is being recalled because it contains excessive amount of lead paint, and violates federal standards. Consumers are being advised to immediately remove the toy from their childrens’ grubby little grasp and contact OKK Trading for a refund or exchange.

Bookmark to:
    

We’re starting to think that maybe you should stay away from dollar store toys all together. The latest lead-laden plaything is a toy xylophone from King Import Warehouse. The xylophones are being recalled because they are in violation of the lead paint standard. We know what you’re saying — “How can a cheaply produced toy made in China contain lead?” Shocking, isn’t it.

The toy was sold at various dollar stores in Texas between December 2007 through February 2008. The price of the toy? Take a wild guess. You should take this toy away from your kids immediately and either discard or bring back to place of purchase for an exchange (yeah, that sounds like a good idea). Any questions, consumers can call King Import Warehouse collect at 972-241-5464.

Bookmark to:
    

Oh how we relied on Infant Mylicon for our ultra-gassy baby. Fortunately we’re past that stage, because Merck Pharmaceuticals has issued a nationwide recall for the drops, due to the risk of metal fragments in the liquid. What, do they make it in the same factory as Strawberry Quik?

The recall specifically is for two lots of Infants’ Mylicon Gas Relief Dye Free 1 oz. size: lot numbers SMF007 and SMF008, expiration date 09/10. Parents are being urged to stop using the product immediately and to either dispose of it or contact Merck for a replacement or refund.

Bookmark to:
    

Nestlé USA is recalling the most unnatural — yet tasty — substance on Earth, Strawberry Quik. Two production codes were found to possibly contain small fragments of aluminum. The codes affected are “82255880″ and “82265880″ with a best by date of “August 2010″ — the codes can be found on the bottom of the container.

So unless you want a homeless guy to pick you up and try to turn you in at the recycling center, either discard the product or return it to the store for a refund. Any questions, contact Nestlé at 888-637-4345.

Bookmark to:
    

Earth Friendly of Beaverton, Oregon is recalling several of their wooden toys. The toys have small parts that can break off and can be a choking hazard. Their rattle handle also does not meet voluntary rattle standards.

The toys were sold in several western states including Alaska, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington between April 2008 and September 2008 for $12 - $22. The recall affects three of their toys — Moee the Car, Cubby the Stackable Bear, and the Bell rattle. Consumers are being advised to remove the recalled toys and contact Earth Friendly to get an exchange or refund. Earth Friendly can be reached at 888-360-6292. More information can be found on the company website.

Bookmark to:
    

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a lawsuit against SFCA, the company that recently bought crib manufacturer Simplicity, in an effort to step up responsibility on companies for safety concerns.

“SFCA distributed the dangerous bassinets into Illinois even after the same defective design caused the death of a 4-month-old baby girl. So far SFCA has refused to cooperate,” Madigan said.

Madigan also called out for an improvement to the recall system itself, calling on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to step up enforcement to stop making families wait for sometimes cheap or confusing replacement parts.

By the time 28 different types of Jardine cribs were recalled last June, parents like Jennifer Slivinskas of Orland Park already had them in their homes, and were told to wait six weeks for a replacement part.

Bookmark to:
    

LeapFrog has issued a recall for their Didj game system batteries and recharging station. If the game system is placed into the charger upside down — and we know how easily a kid could do that — the batteries can overheat, causing a burn hazard. Not to mention that it can’t be too good for the toy, either.

The Didj recharger was sold nationwide between July 2008 through October 2008 for about $35. Consumers should contact LeapFrog for a refund, or visit LeapFrog’s website for more information.

Bookmark to:
    

That great deal on a used crib from Craigslist might not have been a bargain after all. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a huge recall of over 1.6 million cribs manufactured between 1995 and 2007 by Delta Enterprise, the world’s largest crib distributor. The problem stems from missing safety pegs in the drop side which can lead to it falling, creating a hazardous gap where a baby’s head can get stuck. Two known deaths have already resulted from this. Information about the affected models can be found here.

In light of this as well as a large number of other crib recalls, the CPSC is using its Congressional authority to implement new crib manufacturing standards.

“Having determined that no actions have been taken by the voluntary standards community, the agency is using another authority granted by Congress, the authority to create mandatory standards,” said CPSC spokeswoman Julie Vallese.

Bookmark to:
    

Around 2,000 convertible cribs made by Playkids U.S.A. are being recalled as they present a suffocation hazard. The mesh sides stretches too much, creating a gap between the side and the mattress — not good! The convertible cribs affected by the recall have a model number PLK-909, but the model number is only found on the packaging — so if you’re the obsessive type that keeps the boxes for everything, then good for you. The rest of us, well, who knows. The cribs were sold at various baby stores in New York between March 2007 and September 2008 for around a hundred bucks.

Parents are being advised to stop using the convertible cribs immediately and contact Playkids U.S.A. at 718-797-0302 for a full refund. (You can call Playkids collect.)

Bookmark to:
    

Various retailers have announced a voluntary recall of side drop cribs made by Simplicity, Inc. You may remember Simplicity from a year ago, when other of their cribs were recalled after infant deaths occurred. Not surprisingly, Simplicity is now out of business. With this round of apparently shoddy craftsmanship the crib side drops down all right — all on its own, creating an entrapment hazard.

This recall of this Simplicity crib includes model numbers: 8620, 8745, 8748, 8755, 8756, 8778, 8810, and 8994, with a date code ending in 05DH, 05GB, 06DH, 06GB, 07DH or 07GB (examples: 1806 DH or 0507 GB). Model names are the Aspen and Crib N Changer Combo, Gabrielle, Camille, Providence and Shenandoah. But you know what? As this is the second huge recall of these cribs, we would suggest even if you own a Simplicity crib not listed here, maybe consider a replacement…

Bookmark to:
    

Abbott has announced a voluntary recall of their Calcilo XD infant formula, after it was found the can may have been faulty, letting in air and causing oxidation. Oxidation = spoiled formula. Babies drinking the formula could experience gastronomic distress, like vomiting and diarrhea. Only the 14.1 ounce (400g) cans of the XD Low-Calcium/Vitamin D-Free infant formula are affected by this recall. More information on this recall can be found on the Abbott Nutrition website.

Bookmark to:
    

The Master Toys and Novelties company have mastered putting lead paint on their Little Rider toys. Paint on certain parts of the toy exceed recommended lead levels, which as we all know by now can be hazardous to children if the paint flakes and is ingested even in small quantities.

About 6,000 of these toys were sold between April 2007 and January 2008 nationwide in dollar stores for $5-$7 (wait a minute…). Parents are being advised to rip those suckers right out of their kid’s hands and return it to where they bought it for a refund. More information about this recall can be found on the Master Toys website.

You’ll never guess where they were made.

Bookmark to:
    

Out of all the things that put our kids in harm’s way, we didn’t think they’re blankie would be one of them. But apparently they can be just as deadly as any of them, and Douglas is recalling their line of Lil’ Snugglers children’s blankets, because of reports that the satin edge can come loose, presenting a strangulation hazard.

These blankets were sold at specialty stores nationwide between April 2005 and December 2007 for around $12. A complete list of the style numbers involved in the recall can be found on the Douglas website.

Bookmark to:
    

Better put down the coffee, lady, you’re going to need both hands free to catch your baby. Because while the Beco Butterfly baby carrier is awfully cute, the shoulder strap buckles can “unexpectedly release tension”, which might unexpectedly release your infant. And unless you have the reflexes of an NFL wide receiver, it might result in your baby falling on the ground. Which is NO GOOD.

The carrier was sold at specialty stores nationwide between January and February 2008, for around $140. Sheesh, at that price you would think they could afford some more quality control. Models affected by the recall are: Mia, Pony Express, Carnival, Addison, Ethan, Sophia, Cameron, Ava and Joshua. Customers are being advised to stop using the carriers immediately, and to contact Beco for instructions to receive a replacement. You can either call them at 888-943-8232 or visit Beco’s website.

Bookmark to: