"Baby Bjorn" fabric infant carriers

CPSC Recall #99-053 — January 20, 1999

Recall Summary

Recall Number99-053
Recall DateJanuary 20, 1999
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 240,000

Where It Was Sold

Juvenile specialty stores and mail-order catalogs nationwide sold these carriers from January 1991 through October 1998 for about $75.

Product

"Baby Bjorn" fabric infant carriers

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Baby Swede, LLC, Cleveland, OH, is recalling about 240,000 "Baby Bjorn" fabric infant carriers for repair. Small infants can slip through the leg openings and fall. Infants that are under 2 months of age are at greatest risk. CPSC and Baby Swede, LLC are aware of nine reports of infants slipping through the leg openings of these carriers and falling to the ground. Six of these infants suffered fractured skulls. The "Baby Bjorn" Infant Carrier is a soft-fabric, front carrier sold in navy-blue, black, denim, forest green and other colors. The name "Baby Bjorn" is printed on the front and strap of the carrier. Juvenile specialty stores and mail-order catalogs nationwide sold these carriers from January 1991 through October 1998 for about $75. Consumers should immediately stop using these carriers for children under 2 months of age. All carriers need to be repaired. Baby Swede, LLC is offering consumers a free retrofit kit that, when attached to the carrier, will reduce the size of the leg openings. All consumers should call Baby Swede, LLC toll-free at (866) 424-0200 anytime to receive the retrofit kit. Carriers currently being sold are not included in this recall. Consumers can also view a video clip about this recall (Transcript). It is about 13 megabytes long and the download time depends upon the speed of your Internet connection.

Hazard

Small infants can slip through the leg openings and fall. Infants that are under 2 months of age are at greatest risk.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using these carriers for children under 2 months of age. All carriers need to be repaired. Baby Swede, LLC is offering consumers a free retrofit kit that, when attached to the carrier, will reduce the size of the leg openings.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair 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 (Repair) 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.