Graco recalls toddler beds, fined $4 million

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Graco Children’s Products Inc., a unit of Newell Rubbermaid Inc., has been fined $4 million for failing to report hundreds of incidents, some fatal, involving products ranging from infant carriers to high chairs, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Tuesday.

In addition, 1.2 million toddler beds made by Graco have been recalled because children’s limbs can get trapped between the slats in the guard rails or footboard, resulting in broken bones or sprains, the commission and Graco said.

The CPSC, which said the $4 million fine marked its largest civil penalty ever, said Graco failed to report hundreds of incidents and injuries involving 16 different products from 1991 through 2002. The 12 million items involved were designed for young children and include infant carriers, high chairs, infant swings, strollers and toddler beds.

The injuries ranged from bruises and fractures to strangulation, including some deaths, the CPSC said.

The commission said Graco’s failure to report the safety concerns related to the 1.2 million toddler beds subject to the recall was one of the violations leading to the $4 million provisional penalty.

Graco received reports of 77 entrapments related to the toddler beds, resulting in 13 broken arms and legs and one broken foot, the CPSC said.

The recalled beds were sold from 1994 through 2001 under the names “Cozy Toddler Bed,” “Glow-in-the-Dark Toddler Bed,” and “Classic Toddler Bed.”

There is a label on the guard rail or leg containing one of the following model numbers: 8801, 8801WR, 8821, 8824, 8828, 8833, 30066, 34434 and 11030.

Consumers should remove the guard rails from the recalled beds and call the firm to receive a free retrofit kit.

Consumers can contact Graco at 800-837-4404 or go to the company Web site at http://www.gracobaby.com.

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