Lil' Napper infant swings
CPSC Recall #00-019 - November 16, 1999
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 00-019 |
| Recall Date | November 16, 1999 |
| Remedy Type | Dispose |
| Units Affected | 125,000 |
| Manufacturer | Century Products Co., of Macedonia, Ohio |
Product
Lil' Napper infant swings
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Century Products Co., of Macedonia, Ohio, offered a $30 cash reward for the repair of each Lil' Napper infant swing. These swings were recalled in 1997 following reports of three deaths and one near strangulation from entanglement in the swings' shoulder harness straps. CPSC and Century have since become aware of a fourth death to an 8-month old infant girl in Texas.The swings, which were manufactured by Century from 1991 through 1997, have shoulder harness straps that are placed over each shoulder and buckled between the infant's legs. If the straps on these swings loosen or are unbuckled, an infant can become tangled in the straps and strangle.Despite a nationwide effort over the past 2 years to alert the public about this recall, Century believes that many of the 125,000 swings originally sold could still be in use. Century took steps to get the word out, including direct mail notification to thrift stores and notices in new infant and convertible car seats.The recalled Lil' Napper infant swings can be identified by the following model numbers, located on the bottom of the swing's seat: 12-344, 12-345, 12-347, 12-475 or 12-476. The Century brand name is on the motor assembly at the top of the swing. Each swing has a plastic, two-position seat with a removable plastic tray. The sets are covered by either a vinyl or fabric seat pad. There are four white tubular metal legs supporting the swing.The repair program is no longer available. Parents and caregivers should immediately stop using these infant swings and discard or destroy the product. For more information, consumers can call the company's customer service number at 800-345-4109. If you have one of these swings, however, Century is still offering the $30 cash reward to compensate for having to discard or destroy the product.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
The swings have shoulder harness straps that are placed over each shoulder and buckled between the infant's legs. If the straps on these swings loosen or are unbuckled, an infant can become tangled in the straps and strangle.
Incidents & Injuries
These swings were recalled in 1997 following reports of three deaths and one near strangulation from entanglement in the swings' shoulder harness straps. CPSC and Century have since become aware of a fourth death to an 8-month old infant girl in Texas.
Remedy Instructions
The repair program is no longer available. Parents and caregivers should immediately stop using these infant swings and discard or destroy the product.If you have one of these swings, however, Century is still offering the $30 cash reward to compensate for having to discard or destroy the product.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose 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 (Dispose) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.