It was announced yesterday that 223,000 Peg Perego strollers have been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission due to strangulation risks. The recall is for two stroller models, the Venezia and the Pliko-P3, which Peg Perego made between January 2004 and September 2007.
Two specific incidents prompted the recall to be issued -- the death of a 6-month-old boy in 2004, and a 7-month-old girl who was nearly strangled to death in 2006. In both cases, the infants' heads became trapped in between the seat of the stroller and the tray.
The CSPC says, "An infant can pass through the opening between the stroller tray and seat bottom, but his/her head and neck can become entrapped by the tray. Infants who become entrapped at the neck are at risk of strangulation."
It is a little bit disturbing and scary that it took eight years for this recall to be issued, especially since there are many of us who don't go out and buy new baby gear when our second, third, etc. children arrive. (That stuff is expensive!)
And hand-me-downs aren't the only case for worry, as many parents purchase strollers and other baby items at garage sales, consignment shops, or online auctions -- so there's a chance that your lightly used Peg Perego stroller may be part of this recall if you bought it second-hand.
But don't panic if you own a Peg Perego stroller that was made after September 2007, because the newer models are improved and don't pose any risks. However, always make sure your baby is strapped into the stroller harness of any model, just to err on the side of caution. Those straps are there for a very good reason -- so always use them no matter what!
To check and see whether or not your stroller is part of the recall, check out the list of recalled model numbers on the CPSC website.
Do you always strap your baby into his/her stroller?
Image via USCPSC/Flickr
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Comments 21
I agree. If your child is alone long enough to slide down and choke to death (which does NOT happen instantly)... Then the parents need to be recalled, NOT the stroller. It's just like all these kids being left in cars- if you can't remember that you have a child in the car with you, then you don't need to have a child. Idk about you all but 99% of the time (unless asleep, which is rare) when my kids are in the car with me, they are talking or playing or doing SOMETHING to make noise... I can't "forget" I have them with me. Not to mention, as a responsible driver I check my rearview mirror from time to time and guess what else I see? My kids!
Anyway, I'm sorry- got off topic! It just sickens me that ppl let these tragedies occur. What's next? Recalling baby bottles because they don't fill themselves and feed the child for you?? Come on.
I agree with everyone, where was the parents when those babies were being choked!
I am with Stacy on this one!
oh my . Father bought me one of these for the baby I was going to have yet miscarried ..really glad I never had to use it and have this trouble
That's why having a carrier has been awesome for me. No worries about stroller recalls, or any other issues. I just pop her on my back, and we're good to go.
Ok people...first off what is getting me is that correct me if I'm wrong but it is now 2012. The reason this is being recalled is because of 2 incidents that happened in 2004 and 2006. So in EIGHT years only 2 deaths and OMG the sky is falling? Don't get me wrong if a product is dangerous err on the side of caution and fix the problem or remove the product. But now we start a huge panic and another "parent" war over responsiblity (who's is it, the manufacturer or the parents/caretakers).
@ Deidre Emerson.....Carriers have been recalled too, you know. There was a rather expensive one (can't remember the brand) that was recalled because the straps broke, and babies fell to the ground.