Toy Attachments on Baby Walkers

CPSC Recall #03-043 - November 20, 2002

Recall Summary

Recall Number03-043
Recall DateNovember 20, 2002
Remedy TypeReplace
Units AffectedAbout 410,000

Where It Was Sold

Discount
department and juvenile product stores sold the walkers with these toys nationwide from December 2000 through October 2002 for between $20 and $40.

Product

Toy Attachments on Baby Walkers

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc., of Chicago, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 410,000 toy attachments on baby walkers. The flower toys on the baby walker's tray can detach from the stems, exposing sharp edges and posing a laceration hazard to young children.Kolcraft has received 15 reports of injuries associated with the exposed sharp edges of the toys' stems. The injuries to children included lacerations around the eyes, eyelids, face and tongue. The walkers are multi-colored and have either a detachable toy bar or a detachable music center on the tray. On each tray are two 6.5-inch stems with 3.5-inch stars on top. The recalled walkers were sold under the "Tot Rider" and "Carter's" brand names. Tot Rider walkers included in the recall have model numbers 14303-AC, 14303-CC and 14401-OT. The model numbers are printed on stickers located on the inside wall of the base of the walkers. The names "Tot Rider" and "Kolcraft" are printed on stickers attached to the front of the walker. The Carter's model walkers included in the recall have model numbers 14303-LB, 14303-UE and 14304- LJ. The model numbers are printed on stickers located on the inside wall of the base of the walkers. The words "Carter's" and "Music Center" are printed on stickers attached to the front of the walker. Walker models 14303 and 14304 were manufactured from December 2000 through August 2002, and walker model 14401 was manufactured from January 2000 through July 2002. The manufacturing date is printed on the sticker with the model number. Some of the walkers were made in the U.S. and some were made in China. Discount, department and juvenile product stores sold the walkers with these toys nationwide from December 2000 through October 2002 for between $20 and $40.Consumers should remove the detachable toy bars or music center toy trays on these walkers immediately. For information on receiving a replacement toy bar or music center toy tray, consumers can contact Kolcraft toll-free at (888) 695-9988 anytime or visit the firm's web site at www.kolcraft.com.

Hazard

The flower toys on the baby walker's tray can detach from the stems, exposing sharp edges and posing a laceration hazard to young children.

Incidents & Injuries

Kolcraft has received 15 reports of injuries associated with the exposed sharp edges of the toys' stems. The injuries to children included lacerations around the eyes, eyelids, face and tongue.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should remove the detachable toy bars or music center toy trays on these walkers immediately.

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.