Baby Walker
CPSC Recall #03-009 — October 8, 2002
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 03-009 |
| Recall Date | October 8, 2002 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 50,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Independent discount stores located in Arizona |
| California |
| Colorado |
| Texas |
| Michigan |
| Missouri and New York sold these baby walkers from January 2000 through August 2001 for between $18 and $22. |
Product
Baby Walker
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C.- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Bikepro, Inc. of Pico Rivera, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 50,000 baby walkers. The baby walkers can fit through a standard doorway and are not designed to stop at the edge of a step. Babies using these baby walkers could be seriously injured or killed if they fall down stairs. Bikepro, Inc. has not received any reports of injuries involving these walkers. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.The recalled walkers are intended for babies age 6 months or older. The walkers are blue, green, pink and yellow. They have a musical tray, a thick foamed padded seat and some are equipped with stoppers on the side. These model numbers are recalled: 305, 308RK, 309STP, 384, 386, 388, 388STP, 389STP, 392STP, 393STP, 395 and 399STP. The model numbers are located on the outside of each box. The baby walkers bear a warning label that states in part: "WARNING: NOTE: NEVER LEAVE CHILD UNATTENDED" or "NEVER LEAVE YOUR BABY ALONE IN THIS BABY WALKER" or "USE ONLY FOR CHILDREN WHO CAN SIT UNASSISTED." The baby walkers may bear a label stating "BEBELOVE." Independent discount stores located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas, Michigan, Missouri and New York sold these baby walkers from January 2000 through August 2001 for between $18 and $22.Consumers should stop using these walkers immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, contact Bikepro, Inc. at (800) 261-2559 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.CPSC worked with industry to revise the voluntary standard for baby walkers to address injuries from falls down stairs. The revised standard was published in 1997. Children falling down stairs in walkers have accounted for most baby walker-related injuries. New walkers that meet the voluntary standard have special features that stop the walker at the top step. Baby walker-related injuries to children under 15 months old have declined over 60 percent from an estimated 20,100 in 1995 to 7,400 in 2000.
Hazard
The baby walkers can fit through a standard doorway and are not designed to stop at the edge of a step. Babies using these baby walkers could be seriously injured or killed if they fall down stairs.
Incidents & Injuries
Bikepro, Inc. has not received any reports of injuries involving these walkers. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using these walkers immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.
Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.