Playskool Travel-Lite portable crib
CPSC Recall #99-021 - November 16, 1998
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 99-021 |
| Recall Date | November 16, 1998 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 11,000 |
Product
Playskool Travel-Lite portable crib
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kolcraft Enterprises Inc. and Playskool are offering a $120 Child Saver Reward for the return of each Playskool Travel-Lite portable crib. These cribs were recalled in 1993, yet two children died in the cribs this summer, a New Jersey infant and a Chicago toddler. The cribs, which were manufactured by Kolcraft from 1990 through 1992, have rotating top rail hinges. These top rails can collapse, entrapping children and suffocating them. In all, six children have died in Playskool Travel-Lite portable cribs. Despite a nationwide effort over the past five years to alert the public about this recall, some of the 11,000 cribs originally sold could still be in use. To get these products back, Kolcraft and Playskool are doubling the reward for each returned crib from $60 to $120. In addition to the $120 reward, Kolcraft and Playskool, a subsidiary of Hasbro, are taking further steps to get the word out, including mailings to daycare centers, notices in new products and posting of details regarding the reward on Hasbro's web site at www.hasbro.com under Consumer Affairs Safety Message. The Playskool Travel-Lite portable cribs have two nylon mesh sides and two blue solid plastic ends. "Playskool" appears in white letters on a red background on each end. The portable crib folds in the center for storage and handling. Consumers who own these cribs should stop using them immediately. Anyone who sees one in a day care center, at a baby-sitters, in the home of a friend or relative, or at a garage sale or secondhand store, should inform the caregiver or seller about the recall and reward. For instructions on how to return the crib and receive a $120 Child Saver Reward, call Kolcraft at (800) 453-7673. Date Recalled Product and Firm Number/Dates Sold Remedy 6/25/97 Evenflo "Happy Camper," "Happy Cabana," and "Kiddie Camper" Portable Play Yards 1.2 million units sold between 1990 and 1997 Free hinge covers Call firm 800-447-9178 11/21/96 Century "Fold-N-Go Models 10-710 and 10-810" Portable Play Yards 212,000 units sold between 1993 and 1996 Free repair Call Graco, which now owns the "Century" brand name, at 800-345-4109 11/21/96 Draco "All Our Kids" (models 742 and 762) Portable Cribs/Play Yards 13,000 units sold between 1992 and 1995 Stop use and destroy (Firm out of business) 1/1/95 Baby Trend "Home and Roam" and "Baby Express," Portable Cribs/Play Pens, manufactured before 1995 100,000 units sold between 1992 and 1994 Free repair Call firm 800-328-7363 2/17/93 Kolcraft "Playskool Travel-Lite" Portable Cribs 11,600 units sold between 1990 and 1992 $120 reward Call firm 800-453-7673
Hazard
The cribs have rotating top rail hinges. These top rails can collapse, entrapping children and suffocating them. In all, six children have died in Playskool Travel-Lite portable cribs.
Incidents & Injuries
The crib's top rails can collapse, entrapping children and suffocating them. In all, six children have died in Playskool Travel-Lite portable cribs.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who own these cribs should stop using them immediately. Anyone who sees one in a day care center, at a baby-sitters, in the home of a friend or relative, or at a garage sale or secondhand store, should inform the caregiver or seller about the recall and reward. For instructions on how to return the crib and receive a $120 Child Saver Reward, call Kolcraft at (800) 453-7673.
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.
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.