Graco infant swings
CPSC Recall #00-098 — April 12, 2000
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 00-098 |
| Recall Date | April 12, 2000 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 7 million |
Where It Was Sold
| Mass merchandise |
| juvenile products and major discount stores nationwide sold the Graco swings through approximately January 1998 for between $70 to about $120. |
Product
Graco infant swings
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Graco Children's Products Inc., of Elverson, Pa., is providing new safety restraints for about 7 million infant swings made before November 1997. These new restraints will upgrade older swings. The restraint systems on the older swings consist of a waist belt only and a hinged or removable tray, which serves as a restraint. If parts are missing, the restraints are not used, or the tray pops off, infants can slip down into the seat and strangle or fall from the swing. There have been six deaths. These occurred when parts were missing or the restraints were not used and infants slid down the swings' seats and became tangled in the restraints. In five instances, the swings were second-hand. Of 209 incidents, 181 were reports of infants falling from the swing. In nine of the falls, infants suffered serious injuries including bone fractures and concussions. Twenty-two infants were caught at the neck or chest. Graco is offering a free, new safety restraint to replace the swings' old restraint systems. The safety restraint kit comes with instructions and can be installed easily. The new safety system has a buckle that assures the crotch strap is used each time the waist belt is buckled, so that infants are securely fastened into the swings. If consumers have a Graco infant swing, they should call Graco to determine if their swing needs a new safety restraint. The swings are battery-powered or wind-up, and are either the traditional A-frame or open top design. Some models have removable seats, which can be used as an infant carrier. Graco will help consumers identify swings that need new safety restraints. Mass merchandise, juvenile products and major discount stores nationwide sold the Graco swings through approximately January 1998 for between $70 to about $120. Consumers should stop using the swings immediately. To receive the free safety restraint, consumers should call Graco at (800) 345-4109 anytime. Consumers may also write to Customer Affairs, Graco Children's Products Inc., P.O. Box 100, Elverson, PA 19520. Consumers should have the swing in front of them when they call so that Graco can determine if the swing needs the new safety restraint.
Hazard
The restraint systems on the older swings consist of a waist belt only and a hinged or removable tray, which serves as a restraint. If parts are missing, the restraints are not used, or the tray pops off, infants can slip down into the seat and strangle or fall from the swing.
Incidents & Injuries
There have been six deaths. These occurred when parts were missing or the restraints were not used and infants slid down the swings' seats and became tangled in the restraints. In five instances, the swings were second-hand. Of 209 incidents, 181 were reports of infants falling from the swing. In nine of the falls, infants suffered serious injuries including bone fractures and concussions. Twenty-two infants were caught at the neck or chest.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the swings immediately. To receive the free safety restraint, consumers should call Graco at (800) 345-4109 anytime. Consumers may also write to Customer Affairs, Graco Children's Products Inc., P.O. Box 100, Elverson, PA 19520.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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 (Replace) 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.