(Mesh on) Graco Playards
CPSC Recall #97-015 - October 29, 1996
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 97-015 |
| Recall Date | October 29, 1996 |
| Remedy Type | New Instructions, Repair |
| Units Affected | About 133,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| The recalled playards were sold nationwide in juvenile products and discount stores such as Toys R Us and Walmart for $35 to $55 each. |
Product
(Mesh on) Graco Playards
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Graco Children's Products Inc. of Elverson, Pa., is announcing a free repair kit for about 133,000 traditional style Graco playards (also known as a playpen). The mesh on playards made between November 1995 and September 1996 may unravel from the seam, resulting in a possible choking or entanglement hazard. Graco has received 9 reports of toddlers unraveling a strand from the mesh and becoming entangled in it or mouthing it. No serious injuries resulted. To protect children from possible injury, Graco is offering a free, easily applied solution that will prevent the mesh strands from unraveling. The recalled playards were sold nationwide in juvenile products and discount stores such as Toys R Us and Walmart for $35 to $55 each. The drop-side style playards have vinyl covered top rails and a vinyl covered pad. A manufacturing date is located on a label on the playard floor under the pad. Recalled playards have manufacturing dates 111395 (November 13, 1995) through 091296 (September 12, 1996). Consumers should call Graco at (800) 345-4109 for a free repair kit and application instructions or write to Customer Affairs, Graco Children's Products Inc., P.O. Box 100, Elverson, PA 19520. Consumers should not use the playard if the netting has started to unravel.
Hazard
The mesh on playards made between November 1995 and September 1996 may unravel from the seam, resulting in a possible choking or entanglement hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
Graco has received 9 reports of toddlers unraveling a strand from the mesh and becoming entangled in it or mouthing it. No serious injuries resulted.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should call Graco at (800) 345-4109 for a free repair kit and application instructions or write to Customer Affairs, Graco Children's Products Inc., P.O. Box 100, Elverson, PA 19520. Consumers should not use the playard if the netting has started to unravel.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a New Instructions, 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 (New Instructions, Repair) at no cost to you.
Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside, if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.
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.