Child, Infant & Toy Recalls: A Guide for Parents
Juvenile product recalls—such as infant sleepers, strollers, high chairs, car seats, and magnetic toys—involve unique risks like suffocation, fall injuries, or ingestion. Here is how to keep your children safe.
Stop Use Immediately — Do Not Attempt DIY Fixes
Never attempt to repair a recalled crib, bassinet, or car seat using duct tape, zip ties, or hardware store screws. Improvised repairs frequently fail under mechanical stress and can create new entrapment or strangulation points.
1. Where to Find Model and Date Codes on Baby Gear
By law (under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act), every durable infant or toddler product must feature a permanent tracking label:
- Car Seats: Located on a white printed sticker on the back or underside of the plastic shell. It lists the Model Name, Model Number, and Date of Manufacture.
- Cribs & Bassinets: Look for a stamped label on an inner leg or mattress support rail.
- Strollers: Typically positioned on the rear lower frame tubing or under the footrest.
- High Chairs: Affixed to the bottom of the seat bucket or on one of the rear frame legs.
2. How to Claim Your Free Remedy
Under CPSC, Health Canada, and European consumer regulations, recalling companies must provide one of three statutory remedies free of charge:
- Free Certified Repair Kit: Manufacturers will mail custom replacement brackets, straps, or software updates along with installation instructions.
- Free Replacement Unit: If a repair is not safe or practical, the company will ship a newer compliant model upon receipt of proof of destruction of the recalled unit.
- Full Refund or Store Voucher: If the company has ceased manufacturing, they will issue a refund check or store credit.
3. Secondhand, Yard Sale, and Hand-Me-Down Hazards
More than 60% of recalled juvenile products remain in circulation through thrift stores, garage sales, and peer-to-peer marketplaces (like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist).
- It is illegal under US federal law to sell any recalled product, even at a garage sale or thrift store.
- Always search the model number in our database before purchasing any used crib, stroller, or baby swing.
- Never purchase or accept a used car seat unless you know its complete history and can verify it has never been involved in a moderate or severe collision.