Blue-Box crib gyms

CPSC Recall #89-017 — February 22, 1989

Recall Summary

Recall Number89-017
Recall DateFebruary 22, 1989
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedApproximately 30,000
Manufactured InSingapore

Product

Blue-Box crib gyms

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. Blue Box, New York, N.Y. is voluntarily recalling approximately 30,000 Blue-Box crib gyms because of a potential strangulation hazard to infants. Crib toys were sold in Toys R Us stores. The majority of these Blue-Box Crib Gyms, distributed nationally in 1987 and 1988 for about $8, consists of a blue plastic bar approximately 15 inches long with several infant toys suspended from it. Yellow straps at each end allow the toy to be attached to a crib or playpen rail. The words "Blue-Box" and "Made in Singapore" are molded on the plastic bar. While no strangulations or injuries have been reported, Blue-Box is recalling this toy because consumers may leave the toy in the crib longer than is considered safe. In particular, the package is labeled as appropriate for children "ages 3 months and up," but does not caution consumers to remove the product from the crib when the infant begins to push up on hands and knees or reaches five months of age. Also, the package does not contain information about the risk if the toy is not removed. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, five-month-old infants can pull themselves up to a hanging crib toy and may become entangled or fall forward over it, possibly strangling. In addition, because the toy is not labeled to advise consumers that it will not fit a standard full-size crib, consumers may attach strings or ribbons to the toy for use in a full-size crib. The addition of strings or ribbons could increase the risk of strangulation. Consumers with the Blue-Box crib gym should return it to the retailer for a refund of the purchase price.

Hazard

Five-month-old infants can pull themselves up to a hanging crib toy and may become entangled or fall forward over it, possibly strangling. Consumers may attach strings or ribbons to the toy for use in a full-size crib, which could increase the risk of strangulation.

Incidents & Injuries

No strangulations or injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers with the Blue-Box crib gym should return it to the retailer for a refund of the purchase price.

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.