Lexlee's Kids - Child Safety and Injury Prevention

March & April Recalls are Overgrown this Spring!

Lexlees Kids — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:52:09 +0000

Spring has sprung & recalls are filling the air. Take a moment to weed through the recalls to make sure your little sprout is as safe as can be!

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for your kids’ safety. If you have questions about child product recalls or child safety post here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225-372-3991.

Child Product Recalls Issued by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in March & April are as follows:

MARCH

3/28/2013 FDA: Heartland Gourmet is voluntarily recalling gluten free baking mixes due to undeclared milk.
Keywords: gluten free, allergen, Heartland Gourmet, baking mix, undeclared, milk, allergen

3/28/2013 CPSC: iCandy World is voluntarily recalling cherry strollers due to strangulation hazard because the opening between the bumper bar and seat bottom of the stroller can allow an infant’s body to pass through and become entrapped at the neck.
Keywords: iCandy World, cherry model, strollers, strangulation hazard /
#Products: 830

3/28/2013 CPSC: Bell Sports is voluntarily recalling BMX bike helmets due to risk of head injury because the buckle on the helmet’s safety strap can release in an accident, sold exclusively at Toys R Us.
Keywords: Bell Sports, bike, helmet, BMX, Toys R Us / #Products: 2,500

3/28/2013 CPSC: BabyHome USA is voluntarily recalling high chairs due to strangulation hazard because the front opening between the tray and seat bottom of the high chair can allow a child’s body to pass through and become entrapped at the neck.
Keywords: BabyHome USA, high chairs, strangulation hazard /
#Products: 1,100

3/27/2013 CPSC: Bugaboo is voluntarily recalling Cameleon3 strollers due to fall hazard because the stroller’s carrying handle can break and detach.
Keywords: Bugaboo, Cameleon3, strollers, fall hazard / #Products: 9,200

3/26/2013 CPSC: WRSI is voluntarily recalling kayaking and rafting helmets due to head injury hazard because the chinstrap buckle can fail.
Keywords: WRSI, kayak, raft, helmet, head injury hazard / #Products: 2,000

3/26/2013 CPSC: PT Domusindo Perdana is voluntarily recalling drop-side cribs due to entrapment and suffocation hazards because the cribs’ drop sides can malfunction creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged or entrapped.
Keywords: JC Penney, Domusindo Perdana, drop-side, cribs, entrapment hazard / #Products: 73,000

3/26/2013 CPSC: West Music is voluntarily recalling egg-shaker toy instruments due to choking and aspiration hazards.
Keywords: West Music, egg-shaker, toy, instruments, choking hazard, aspiration hazard / #Products: 6,500

3/23/2013 FDA: Gold Standard Baking is voluntarily recalling Sweet P’s Bake Shop caramel apple danish coffee cake due to undeclared walnuts.
Keywords: Gold Standard Baking, Sweet P’s Bake Shop, caramel, apple, Danish, coffee cake, undeclared, walnuts, allergen / #Products: 1,134

3/21/2013 CPSC: Magura USA is voluntarily recalling bicycle hydraulic disc brakes due to collision hazard because the brakes can fail in low temperatures.
Keywords: Magura, bicycle, brakes, collision hazard / #Products: 2,800

3/20/2013 CPSC: Yuba Bicycles is voluntarily recalling Mundo cargo bikes due to injury hazard because the passengers feet can get caught in the rear wheel.
Keywords: Yuba, bicycles, Mundo, cargo, injury hazard / #Products: 1,000

3/15/2013 FDA: Nishimoto Trading Co., Ltd is voluntarily recalling packages of Kameda Brand Rice Cracker “Kotsubukko” snack food because they may contain undeclared milk.
Keywords: Nishimoto, Kotsubukko, snacks, allergen, milk, rice, cracker

3/15/2013 FDA: Grippo Foods, Inc is voluntarily recalling potato chips due to possible containment of metal fragments.
Keywords: Grippo, potato chips, snack, metal hazard.

3/14/2013 CPSC: IdeaVillage is voluntarily recalling BrightLight Blankets due to burn hazard.
Keywords: Idea Village, Brightlight, blanket, burn hazard / #Products: 5,200

3/14/2013 CPSC: UNIQLO is voluntarily recalling children’s pajamas due to violation of federal flammability hazard.
Keywords: UNIQLO, pajamas, federal flammability hazard / #Products: 700

3/14/2013 CPSC: Synclaire Brands is voluntarily recalling Stuart Weitzman girl’s Cha Cha boots due to fall hazard.
Keywords: Synclaire brands, Stuart Weitzman, Cha Cha, boots, girls, fall hazard / #Products: 5,000

3/13/2013 CPSC: Toys R Us is voluntarily recalling Imaginarium activity walker due to choking hazard.
Keywords: Toys R Us, Imaginarium, walker, toys, choking hazard / #Products: 9,000

3/5/2013 CPSC: Tween Brands is voluntarily recalling disco lights due to electric shock hazard.
Keywords: Tween Brand, disco lights, electric shock hazard, Justice /

APRIL

4/30/2013 FDA: Carson’s Deli & Bakery is voluntarily recalling cookies because they contain undeclared walnuts, wheat flour, milk and peanut butter.
Keywords: allergen hazard, Carson’s, cookies, walnuts, wheat flour, milk, peanut butter / Number of products: 200

4/29/2013 FDA: Smart & Final is voluntarily recalling La Romanella Tri-Color Cheese Tortellini because it may contain undeclared wheat, eggs and milk.
Keywords: allergen hazard, Smart & Final, tortellini, wheat, eggs, milk

4/26/2013 FDA: Maple View Farm is voluntarily recalling pint containers of ice cream because they contain wheat, soy, almonds and peanuts that were not declared on package labels.
Keywords: allergen hazard, ice cream, Maple View Farm, wheat, soy, almonds, peanut / Number of products: 2,650

4/26/2013 FDA: ConAgra Foods is voluntarily recalling packages of its Orville Redenbacher’s Classic Kettle Korn flavor ready-to-eat popcorn that may contain an undeclared allergen, milk.
Keywords: ConAgra Foods, Orville, popcorn, allergen hazard, milk

4/25/2013 CPSC: 3T Design is voluntarily recalling Cervélo bicycles with Aura-Pro handlebars due to risk of injury because the handlebars can detach.
Keywords: bicycle, injury hazard, 3T Design, Cervélo, handlebars / Number of products: 675

4/25/2013 CPSC: The Land of Nod is voluntarily recalling plush dollies because the doll hands can detach and pose a choking hazard.
Keywords: Land of Nod, dolls, dollies, choking hazard /
Number of products: 2,500

4/24/2013 CPSC: Children’s Apparel Network is voluntarily recalling girl’s three-piece clothing sets because the belt can become caught in small spaces or vehicle doors and poses an entanglement hazard.
Keywords: Children’s Apparel Network, entanglement hazard, belt / Number of products: 9,200

4/24/2013 CPSC: Reed and Barton is voluntarily recalling Gingham Bunny forks and spoons for babies because the coloring of the bunnies ears can come off and pose a choking hazard.
Keywords: Reed and Barton, bunny, fork, spoon, choking hazard / Number of products: 4,000

4/23/2013 FDA: 7th Heaven Bakeries is voluntarily recalling oatmeal raisin cookies because they may contain undeclared dry eggs, soy lecithin, and whey solids.
Keywords: 7th Heaven Bakeries, cookies, oatmeal raisin, eggs, milk, soy, allergen hazard

4/22/2013 FDA: Go Max Go Foods is voluntarily recalling vegan candy bar due to a possible health risk because of trace amounts of dairy even though the label states “dairy-free.”
Keywords: allergen hazard, dairy, Go Max Go, candy bar, vegan

4/18/2013 CPSC: J.P. Boden is voluntarily recalling infant and children’s dungaree clothing because the studs and clasps can detach and pose a choking hazard.
Keywords: J.P. Boden, dungarees, clothing, choking hazard / Number of products: 1,900

4/18/2013 CPSC: Classic Characters is voluntarily recalling infant socks, sold exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, because the stitched knit frog face and feet on the socks can detach and pose a choking hazard.
Keywords: Classic Characters, socks, Cracker Barrel, frog, choking hazard / Number of products: 5,000 pairs

4/17/2013 CPSC: Huffy is voluntarily recalling slider tricycles, sold exclusively at Toys R Us, because the handlebar can unexpectedly loosen and cause a loss of control hazard.
Keywords: Huffy, tricycles, Toys R Us, loss of control hazard / Number of products: 5,040

4/16/2013 CPSC: Small World is voluntarily recalling wooden puzzles because small pegs on the puzzle boards can loosen and separate and pose a choking hazard.
Keywords: wood, puzzles, Small World, choking hazard / Number of products: 4,000

APRIL 1-15 RECALLS

4/11/2013 CPSC: Carter’s is voluntarily recalling infant clothing with zippers due to choking hazard because the zipper can detach.
Keywords: Carter’s, choking hazard, clothing, infant, zipper /
#Products: 218,000

4/10/2013 CPSC: Trumpette is voluntarily recalling baby socks due to choking hazard because the flowers and bows can detach.
Keywords: Trumpette, infant, sock, choking hazard / #Products: 33,000

4/10/2013 CPSC: Battenfeld Technologies is voluntarily recalling three-digit combination locking handgun vaults due to lock malfunction that causes the lock to fail.
Keywords: Battenfeld Technologies, lock, handgun, gun / #Products: 4,000

4/4/2013 CPSC: Dynacraft voluntarily recalls Urban Shredder ride-on toys due to fall hazard because the toy can unexpectedly accelerate causing the rider to lose balance.
Keywords: Dynacraft, Urban Shreder, fall hazard / #Products: 8,900

4/4/2013 FDA: Rich Products Corporation is voluntarily recalling all products with cheese produced at its Waycross, Georgia Plant with “Best By” dates ranging from January 1, 2013 to September 29, 2014 due to possible contamination with E. coli.
Keywords: Rich Products, E. coli, cheese

4/02/2013 CPSC: Midwest Trading Group is voluntarily recalling remote-controlled helicopters due to fire and burn hazards because the rechargeable battery inside the helicopters can overheat and ignite the helicopter.
Keywords: Midwest Trading Group, remote-control, rechargeable battery, helicopter, fire hazard, burn hazard / #Products: 9,400

#Products: 19,100

Ever Think a Safety Product Could Hurt your Child?

Lexlees Kids — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:53:44 +0000

Young, eager and thriving…all in the name of SAFETY!

2006, Washington DC, Safe Kids Conference…like a kid in a candy store, but instead of candy…SAFETY gets me every time! Vendors and safety gadgets EVERY WHERE! Running from booth to booth like kids running from house to house on Halloween! How many safety toys can I fit in my bag!?!? A Buckle Bag made of seat belts to be exact, because I hustled the the guy into giving me one from his display (I mailed him a check when I got home of course!) LOL…those were the days!

I met a guy when I was there. He had a product that got my attention, and I’ve been looking for it ever since! And FINALLY…I found it! I had to go deep into the safety underground (International Association for Child Safety, www.iafcs.org)! I can honestly say…one of the best kept secrets…LITERALLY!

Meet George!

Standard Outlet Cover

It all started when George’s new business venture was shut down by the 9/11 Terrorist attack on the United States of America. He became a stay-at-home father to a daughter which he and his wife Estelle, named Sage. One day, George removed a standard sized electrical outlet safety plug and plugged in a vacuum cleaner. He set the safety plug on the edge of the table and began vacuuming. Of course, Sage grabbed the device. Guess where she put the plug…in her mouth! She began choking; however, she got extremely lucky and George saved her life.

SafetyCap

One day shortly thereafter, Sage handed George her pacifier and it hit George like a ton of bricks. He started researching choking incidents on-line and found that the shield on a pacifier must have at least 2 ventilation holes and measure at least 1 3/4 inches in greatest diameter. In addition, the holes must measure at least .2 inches in diameter and be located no closer than .2 inches to the outside edge of the shield.

George applied the pacifier regulations to the shield of a safety plug and found that using the before mentioned hole requirements on a safety plug shield created a safe product regarding choking. The first version was made of white plastic, but now they are made of ultimate-clear plastic. SafetyCaps are designed to blend-in with any color outlet so that kids won’t notice the plug to increase the safety aspect of the device. The caps are created right in George’s back yard (Vermont) to ensure the plastic being used is correct and no short-cuts are taken during the production process. Check out George’s site at http://www.safetycaps.com/.

See how the SafetyCap did during safety testing: http://www.safetycaps.com/safe.htm

Soooooo…

We will be ordering SafetyCaps to try out! It’s been on my mind for all these years, and I’m still very interested! When we get them, we will try them out and compare them to other outlet covers on the market! Sliding, latching, swiveling and plug-ins…OH MY! What a wonderful idea/product for such an unforeseen/unintentional hazard! So, the next time you pop the plug to vacuum…remember to put the outlet cover out of sight and out of reach!

Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for your kids’ safety. If you have questions about childproofing or child safety post here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225-372-3991.

~Crystal, Lexlee’s Kids Executive Director (but you can call me the Super Safety Chick!)

Is After Market, an After Thought???

Lexlees Kids — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:52:39 +0000

Ask yourself…what is my 1st thought when I decide my child NEEDS a little something extra when they are in their car seat?

Is it…

Are they comfortable?

Is this cute?

Will this stimulate my child’s brain?

Will this allow me to see & flirt with my baby while I drive?

Will this help keep my vehicle seats safe?

What about…

How will this effect the integrity or safety of the car seat? Was it crash tested?

Could the product become projectile and injure my child?

Could it be a choking or suffocation hazard? Are there small pieces that could come off? Is this pillow too fluffy?

Does it effect the my child’s breathing? Does that fluffy pillow push my child’s chin to his or her chest?

Will this help keep my child SAFE?

What in the world are we talking about?

Aftermarket or non regulated products are accessories designed and said to improve comfort, fit or installation of your child’s car seat. Sometimes convenience and vehicle protection even come up. Oh, and what about meets and exceeds safety standards…ask them, what safety standards?

As parents you are not buying and adding these items with a thought that the product could harm your child, it’s usually because you think it will help your child in some way. We get it! We can play both sides, but in the end…SAFETY WINS! We are only asking that you ask yourself a different set of questions before purchasing those cute, comfortable and stimulating baby products for the car ride. Most car seat manufacturers warn consumers against using accessories that did not come with the car seat because they were not crash-tested with their seats.

Examples of aftermarket/non-regulated products:

Head positioning pads (Suggestion: select a seat that comes with one or use rolled receiving blankets) There are plenty of seats that come with infant insert padding & have been crash tested with the seat.

Infant inserts/body pillows (Suggestion: same as above) These sometimes push the head too far forward, interfere with the harness straps & how snug they need to be and hide problems that may have been seen with out the extra padding.

Custom car seat covers Using a cover designed for your car seat, designed by your car seat manufacture is different than purchasing a custom cover from a boutique or other company.

Toys (Suggestion: they are fine outside of the vehicle. Avoid them during travel, but if you must have one ask yourself…is this something I would throw at my child’s face? Is it too hard? Will it fly & hurt someone in a crash? Is it something they could choke on? Is it something that could cause suffocation?) Most infant carrier manuals warn parents not to hang toys from the handle.

Mirrors (Suggestion: keep your eyes on the road and off that beautiful baby! Afraid they will choke…make sure your car seat is at the correct angle & make sure you don’t give them anything to choke on. If you must have a mirror…know the risks (projectile, possible sharp object if shattered, distraction). If you choose to use one, make sure you attach correctly & NO FLIRTING!

Vehicle seat protectors We would rather you not use them (unless crash tested with your car seat and approved by manufacture), but if you feel you need something…cabinet liner/gripper is a better option. This can be used as a thin barrier that helps protect vehicle seats, stops slipping and does not interfere with hardware needed to install the car seat correctly. Often times the vehicle seat covers are too thick, create more slippage and/or interfere with buckles and anchors.

Harness pads/covers (Suggestion: select a seat that comes with them or pull your child’s shirt up at the collar to create a barrier between your child’s neck and the straps. The harness covers are used to create a barrier & prevent brushing on your child’s neck. They should not be considered as a fluffy pillow to sleep in the car seat.) In a crash the padding will compress creating slack in the harness, meaning…the harness is not as snug on your child as you thought!

Those are the most common, but there are plenty more! If you are unsure…look in your manual, call your car seat manufacture or you can even give us a shout! Schedule a car seat appointment ASAP & ask us any questions you can think of! We promise not to snatch your non regulated/aftermarket products and run…we will only give you very friendly information & let you make the final decision. Ask around…we are very nice & silly, but we are very serious about your child’s safety!

Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for your kid’s safety. If you have questions or comments about car seats or child safety, post here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225.372.3991.

***NOTE: Photos included in this post are not best practice, but are used to show you the NO-NO’s of child passenger safety! The photo demonstrating rolled receiving blankets is an approved method for aligning an infant’s head/neck in a child restraint.

New Year, New Recalls!

Lexlees Kids — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:46:40 +0000

We hope SAFETY is at the top of your list for 2013!

5, 4, 3, 2, 1…Happy New Year! Better late than never, right?!?!? Things have been booming here at Lexlee’s Kids…We really did bring in the New Year with a BANG (a safe bang)! You don’t have to wait for our monthly recall post if you have questions! Call, email, blog, Facebook, Tweet, or heck even come by & visit us! We are ALWAYS here (if not in person, virtually)! So, Happy New Year to you & here are your not so happy recalls!

Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for your kids’ safety. If you have questions about child product recalls or child safety post here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225-372-3991.

Child Product Recalls Issued by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in January & February are as follows:

JANUARY RECALLS

1/31/2013 FDA: GE Healthcare is voluntarily recalling resuscitation systems with blender installed in GE giraffe and panda infant warmers
Keywords: GE Healthcare, resuscitation system, panda, giraffe, infant, warmer, hospital

1/31/2013 CPSC: FoodState is voluntarily recalling bottles of MegaFood one daily vitamin supplements because of a lack of child-resistant packaging.
Keywords: FoodState, supplement, MegaFood, child-resistant /
Products: 7,400

1/31/2013 CPSC: Kringles Toys and Gifts is voluntarily recalling high powered magnets due to ingestion hazard; sold exclusively on Amazon.com.
Keywords: Kringles Toys and Gifts, high powered magnets, rare earth magnets, ingestion hazard, Amazon.com, Nanospheres Magnetic Desk
Toys / Products: 4,200

1/31/2013 CPSC: World Imports is voluntarily recalling bunk beds due to violation of safety standard.
Keywords: bunk beds, World Imports, rails, safety standard /
Products: 8,600

1/31/2013 CPSC: SCS Direct is voluntarily recalling high powered Magnet Balls due to risk of ingestion; sold exclusively on Amazon.com.
Keywords: SCS Direct, high powered magnets, rare earth magnets, ingestion hazard, Amazon.com, Magnet Balls / Products: 106,000

1/30/2013 CPSC: Bexco is voluntarily recalling Million Dollar Baby dressers due to tip-over hazards; two toddler deaths reported.
Keywords: Million Dollar Baby, dresser. Bexco, tip-over hazard, death / Products: 18,000

1/30/2013 CPSC: Gemme Juvenile is voluntarily recalling Natart Chelsea dressers due to tip-over hazard; death of toddler reported.
Keywords: Natart Chelsea, dresser, tip-over hazard, death / Products: 300

1/30/2013 CPSC: Sportspower voluntarily expands trampoline recall due to fall hazard; sold exclusively at Walmart.
Keywords: Sportspower, trampoline, fall hazard, Walmart, /
Products: 120,000

1/29/2013 CPSC: BRP is voluntarily recalling Can-Am Commander side-by-side vehicles due to fire hazard.
Keywords: BRP, Can-Am Commander, vehicles, fire hazard /
Products: 25,000

1/25/2013 CPSC: Specialized Bicycle Components is voluntarily recalling bicycles due to fall hazard. Incident reported involved a fall with facial injuries and lacerations requiring stitches.
Keywords: Specialized Bicycle Components, bicycles, fall hazard /
Products: 12,200

1/23/2013 FDA: ConAgra Foods is voluntarily recalling Hunt’s Tomato Sauce due to a defect in the inner lining that can cause the can to swell and the product to spurt out when opened.
Keywords, ConAgra Goods, Hunt’s, tomato sauce

1/22/2013 CPSC: Siemens is voluntarily recalling temperature and humidity sensors for schools, hospitals and other buildings due to fire hazard.
Keywords: Siemens, sensors, schools, fire hazard / Products: 57,000

1/22/2013 FDA: Annie’s is voluntarily recalling Annie’s Homegrown Frozen Pizza products due to the possible presence of fragments of metal.
Keywords: Pizza, Annie’s, frozen, metal

01/16/2013 FDA: BBU, Inc. is voluntarily recalling Thomas’, Sara Lee, Publix, And Weight Watchers bagels due to possible presence of fragments of metal.
Keywords: BBU Inc. Thomas, Sara Lee, Publix, Weight Watchers, metal, bagels, Bimbo Bakeries

01/15/2013 CPSC: Target is voluntarily recalling children’s two-piece pajama sets due to violation of federal flammability standard.
Keywords: Target, pajama, sleepwear, federal flammability standard, burn hazard / Products: 560,000

01/15/2013 FDA: Belmont Confections Inc. is voluntarily recalling Dymatize Nutrition Elite Gourmet Cookies & Cream bars and Dymatize Nutrition Elite Gourmet Fudge Brownie bars because they may contain undeclared peanuts.
Keywords: Belmont Confections, Dymatize, bars, fudge, brownie, cookies & cream, allergen, peanuts

01/15/2013 CPSC: Target is voluntarily recalling Circo girls fleece pajamas due to violation of federal flammability standard.
Keywords: burn hazard, sleepwear, Target, pajama, Circo, fleece, federal flammability standard / Products: 42,000

1/15/2013 CPSC: Bugaboo is voluntarily recalling strollers due to fall and choking hazards that can occur as a result of a faulty carry handle.
Keywords: Bugaboo, strollers, fall hazard, choking hazard /
Products: 46,300 in the U.S. and 4,440 in Canada

1/10/2013 CPSC: BRP is voluntarily recalling Can-Am side by side off-road vehicles due to loss of steering control hazard.
Keywords: BRP, off-road vehicles, steering / Products: 3,400

1/10/2013 CPSC: John Deere is voluntarily recalling Gator utility vehicles due to fire hazard.
Keywords: John Deere, utility vehicles, fire, fuel line, hazard /
Products: 4,650

1/9/2013 FDA: Island Delights is voluntarily recalling Island Delights Coconut Haystack Candy due to undeclared milk.
Keyword: Island Delights, candy, milk, allergen

1/9/2013 CPSC: Polaris is voluntarily recalling Ranger recreation off-highway vehicles due to loss of control and crash hazard.
Keywords: Polaris, Ranger, crash hazard, ROV / Products: 327

1/8/2013 CPSC: Fisher-Price is voluntarily recalling Rock ‘N Play Infant Sleepers due to risk of exposure to mold.
Keywords: mold, sleepers, Fisher-Price, inspection, newborn /
Products: 800,000

1/7/2013 FDA: Somersault Snack Co. is voluntarily recalling all packages of Somersaults Cinnamon Crunch snack due to undeclared milk.
Keywords: Somersault, snack, allergen, cinnamon crunch, milk

1/4/2013 FDA: ConAgra Foods is voluntarily recalling Andy Capp’s potato product, Hot Fries, due to undeclared soy allergen.
Keywords: ConAgra, Andy Capp, Hot Fries, soy, allergen

1/3/2013 FDA: Glister-Mary Lee Corp. is voluntarily recalling Food Club Chocolate Chunk Brownie Mix due to undeclared walnuts.
Keywords: Glister-Mary Lee Corp, brownie mix, walnuts, allergen, tree nuts

1/3/2013 FDA: Southwest Ice Cream Specialities is voluntarily recalling ShurFine Brand “Creamery Select Premium Ice Cream Dulce de Leche,” which may contain undeclared allergens of wheat, soy and pecans.
Keywords: ice cream, Southwest, ShurFine, Dulce de Leche, allergen, wheat, soy, pecans.

FEBRUARY RECALLS

2/28/2013 CPSC: Balsam Hill is voluntarily recalling pre-lit Christmas trees due to burn and shock hazards.
Keywords: Christmas, Balsam Hill, pre-lit, burn hazard, shock hazard / #Products: 700

2/27/2013 FDA: Zachary Confections, Inc. is voluntarily recalling Zachary Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Eggs due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Keywords: Zachary Confections, marshmallow, chocolate, eggs, salmonella, contamination, health hazard

2/26/2013 CPSC: Dynacraft is voluntarily recalling Monster High City Motor Scooters due to fall hazard.
Keywords: Walmart, Dynacraft, Monster High, scooters, motor, fall hazard / #Products: 5,500

2/26/2013 CPSC: Dynacraft is voluntarily recalling Hello Kitty City Motor Scooters due to fall hazard.
Keywords: Toys R Us, Dynacraft, Hello Kitty, scooters, motor, fall hazard / #Products: 5,200

2/22/2013 FDA: King Arthur Flour is voluntarily recalling flour due to the presence of a foreign object.
Keywords: King Arthur Flour, foreign object, flour, polyurethane balls

2/21/2013 FDA: Mondelēz Global LLC is voluntarily recalling belVita breakfast biscuit apple cinnamon and chocolate varieties due to the presence of metal fragments.
Keywords: Mondelēz Global, belVita, biscuit, breakfast, foreign object, metal hazard

2/21/2013 FDA: Mandy Star Trading Inc. is voluntarily recalling “Good Taste” brand preserved fruits due to the presence of undeclared sulfites.
Keywords: Mandy Star Trading, Good Taste, preserved, fruits, undeclared, allergen, sulfites

2/19/2013 FDA: BBU, Inc. is voluntarily recalling bread due to possible presence of flexible wire caused by a faulty screen at a flour mill.
Keywords: BBU, bread, wire, metal hazard, foreign object, flour

2/15/2013 FDA: The Muffin “Mam”, Inc. is voluntarily recalling 24oz Strawberry Crème Cake as they contain undeclared whole eggs ingredient.
Keywords: The Muffin “Mam,” cake, strawberry, whole eggs, allergen

2/14/2013 CPSC: John Deere is voluntarily recalling Gator utility vehicles due to fire hazard.
Keywords: John Deere, Gator, utility vehices, side-by-side, fire hazard / #Products: 4,700

2/14/2013 FDA: Associated Milk Producers Inc. is voluntarily recalling pudding due to undeclared milk.
Keywords: AMPI, pudding, allergen, milk, GFS Lemon Pudding

2/13/2013 FDA: Domega NY International Co. is voluntarily recalling Green Day Brand dried coconut due to undeclared sulfites.
Keywords: Domega, Green Day, dried coconut, sulfites, allergen

2/13/2013 CPSC: MJC is voluntarily recalling Purr-Fection stuffed animals with flashlights due to laceration hazard. Sold exclusively at Cabela’s.
Keywords: MJC, Purr-Fection, stuffed animal, flashlight, laceration hazard, Cabela’s, Beamerzzz, / #Products: 7,200

2/7/2013 CPSC: Mutsy USA is voluntarily recalling EVO strollers due to strangulation hazard.
Keywords: Mutsy, EVO, strollers, strangulation, entrapment /
#Products: 340

2/6/2013 CPSC: 4moms is voluntarily recalling Play Yard sheets that are used on the bottom of playpens due to entrapment hazard.
Keywords: 4moms, play yard, sheets, entrapment hazard, suffocation / #Products: 1,440

Car Seat Confusion…Second-Hand Car Seats!

Lexlees Kids — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:30:42 +0000

Let us start by saying, a car seat is better than no car seat at all. Before obtaining a used car seat, be sure to check with local agencies who may be able to provide car seats to families in need. Used car seats are not recommended, but if this is your only choice, use the list below for guidance:

Typically must not be older than 6 years, unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer
Can not have been in a crash
Not be on a recall list
Have all of its parts
Not be damaged
Have the owner’s manual
Stored well by previous owner
Know the complete history of the seat

So basically, if you don’t know the person…REALLY know them and trust them…with the life of your child, then using the used seat is not a good idea. Someone you say hi to every now and then, someone you work with or met online, doesn’t mean you know them.

Should I use a used car seat from:

Garage sales: NO
Consignment shops: NO (Some shops sell brand-new, in that case…go for it!)
Friend of a friend: NO (Best friend: It may be ok if you know them well & trust them. Did they take good care of the seat? Does it meet the requirements above?)
Craig’s List/Facebook: NO
Family member: MAYBE (It may be ok if you know them well & trust them (sister, brother…). If they took good care of the seat and it meets the requirements above.
A previous child: MAYBE (if you took good care of the seat and it meets the requirements above)

*Problem is, friends and family may not know that they are missing something, remember that it’s been in a wreck, think about it being stored in 100 degree heat. A lot of time, damage/stress to a car seat cannot be seen by the human eye!

Take the guess work out of the equation and go with a new seat. Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for your kid’s safety. If you have questions or comments about car seats or child safety, post here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225.372.3991. Schedule your appointment TODAY!

Asking for your Help! Please & Thank you!

Lexlees Kids — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:54:42 +0000

Please vote for Lexlee’s Kids in the 1st Annual Community Rewards Program! Voting begins Monday, February 4th & will end at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 4th. Balloting is limited to ONE VOTE PER DAY per person, so please vote EVERY DAY! Please help us rally voters and ask your friends to vote for us too. Only…the top ten charities will be awarded funds. There are always precious lives to help save, so please help us out! http://www.gulfbank.com/CommunityRewards.asp

*Enter your email & have an access code emailed to you.
*Enter first & last name & check the terms/conditions box
*SELECT LEXLEE’S KIDS from the list on the right
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Thank you for your support!

Eeny Meeny Miny Moe…Where should all the Car Seats Go?

Lexlees Kids — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:30:48 +0000

You thought picking the car seat was the tough part? Now you have to decide where and how you are going to install the car seat in the vehicle. How many kids do you have? Does your vehicle allow you to install the car seat there? How does that spot effect other passengers? Can you get a good install there? Do you want to use LATCH or seat belt, does the spot you pick allow you to install the car seat with LATCH? Is there a tether anchor in that spot? The list goes on and on…and all questions are relevant!

Let’s start simple (as simple as possible): Which Position is the Safest?

This varies with child’s age/weight/height, type of seat, direction, type of vehicle, etc.

1. Back Seat Middle – Furthest from impact in any direction and away from airbags

2. Back Seat Passenger Side – Opposite side of opposing traffic, not typically on traffic side for street parking, easier to glance at child (we would rather you keep your eyes on the road), near side air bags (typically not an issue), possible side impact

3. Back Seat Driver Side – Closest side to on-coming traffic, typically on traffic side for street parking, not easy to glance at child, near side air bags, possible side impact

4. Front Seat – Near windshield, near front airbag

Try not to be too hard on yourself if you can’t install your child’s car seat in the center! Although we would like all seats in that position…it’s not possible.

Reasons for not using the center that we have encountered:

1. You don’t have a center seat (captain’s chairs, bucket seats)

2. Your vehicle does not allow car seats to be installed in the center

3. You have more than one child and they can’t all go in the center

4. Two children and the car seats do not fit side-by-side

5. Needing to seperate children for various reasons

6. Physical limitations with reaching the center

7. Can’t get a tight install in the center (no more than 1″ of movement when checked at the belt-path)

8. Broken center seat belt

9. Parent wanting to use LATCH, but LATCH is not allowed in the center

There are certainly more, we could go on for days! Just to touch on a couple of things:

Just because you cannot use LATCH in the center (which is common) doesn’t mean you can’t install the car seat there. You do have the option of using the seat belt. LATCH is not necessarily worth giving up the added protection of the center seat. LATCH is not safer than the seat belt and vice-versa. They are both designed to do the same thing. One does become safer than the other if you cannot install the seat correctly using one or the other.
Three row vehicles: 2nd or 3rd row? Remember the 3rd row is often times near or in the rear crumple zone. This is the area that crushes if you are rear-ended. If you can put your kids in the 2nd row, that may be a safer choice than the 3rd. Again, don’t be too hard on yourself if all rows need to be used…everyone needs a seat

ADD ON (2/7/13):

Crumple zones are placed at both the front and rear of the vehicle, are designed to absorb the energy of a crash, better protecting the occupants inside the passenger compartment. Some 3 row vehicles have very small cargo areas, as the 3rd row would be the cargo area if there were only 2 rows. For example: 2008 Tahoe with 3 rows has an estimated 27-30 inch deep cargo area. It is a VERY small zone, especially for crashes with higher speeds and greater force. A Suburban is going to have a larger cargo area, even with 3 rows. Passengers can safely ride in the 3rd row, but having passengers closer to the center of the vehicle is optimal, just as it is optimal to place your child’s car seat in a center seat.

A LITTLE HISTORY ON CRUMPLE ZONES:

http://www.globalncap.org/Vehicle_safety/Pages/Crumplezones.aspx

When you have multiple children, typically putting the child with the least protection in the center is favored. Example: you have a new born infant, rear facing and you have a 3 year old, forward facing. Placing the 3 year old in the center may be the better choice because the infant is already safer because they are rear facing. Additional reasoning: keeping that curious 3 year old away from the doors/windows, and the 3 year old can get out of the seat on their own after you unbuckle them, relieving pressure on your back. Now, the rear facing child may go better in the center if the recline of the car seat pushes the front seats too far forward! There are TONS of things to consider, which is why visiting a child passenger safety tech is so great! It’s FREE & we can help you sort through all the options and decisions that need to be made.
Two-seaters: Just give us a call…lol

We could go on FOREVER! Just remember, correct use of any restraint is just as important as having one! Schedule an appointment with a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician TODAY! EVERYONE should buckle up EVERY trip, EVERY time! Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for your kid’s safety. If you have questions or comments about car seats or child safety, post here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225.372.3991.

Ditch the Distractions!

Lexlees Kids — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:54:25 +0000

The math is simple…TXT + DRV = RIP! In 2010, 3092 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver and an estimated additional 416,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver. Is this enough to get you to say TTYL…I’m Driving!?!?

Three Types of Distractions:

Manual: Taking your hands off the wheel
Visual: Taking your eyes off the road
Cognitive: Taking your mind off driving

It’s not just one type of distraction that’s causing crashes, there are three types and many sub-distractions under each type! It takes all three (hands, eyes and mind) to be a safe driver!

Top 10 Driving Distractions:

1. Cell Phone

2. Eating

3. Changing the Radio

4. Retrieving

5. Lighting a Cigarette

6. Conversation

7. Grooming

8. Billboards

9. Rubber-Necking

10. Waving to others outside of the vehicle

Be aware of the things that can be tempting while driving, and come up with ways to make sure you don’t give in to the temptation. DNT WRECK your life!

If you have questions or comments about distracted driving and/or Ready, Set, DRIVE!, post here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225-372-3991.

*Lexlee’s Kids’ Ready, Set, DRIVE! program is designed for teen drivers to learn the negative effects of distracted driving and underage drinking, while coming up with ways to promote positive behavior change in teen drivers. This unique, fun and educational program offers a driving simulator and a number of other interactive activities to engage all learning styles.

Lexlee’s Kids Ready, Set, DRIVE! Program Sponsored by: Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and State Farm Insurance.

Dear Santa, Please take December Recalls Away!

Lexlees Kids — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:07:47 +0000

Did you write Santa a letter during the holidays that read, “All I want for Christmas is…SAFETY!” You can’t ask for a better gift than that, right!?!?!?

Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for your kids’ safety. If you have questions about child product recalls or child safety post here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225-372-3991.

Child Product Recalls Issued by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in December 2012 are as follows:

RECALL UPDATE ABOUT THE NAUGHTY NAP NANNY!

CPSC 7/26/2010 – Baby Matters is voluntarily recalling Nap Nanny Recliners, due to entrapment, suffocation and fall hazards.

DECEMBER RECALLS

CPSC 12/27/2012 – Meijer is voluntarily recalling Falls Creek Kids Denim Jeans due to choking hazard. The snap on the front of the infant and toddler denim jeans may come loose and pose a choking hazard to young children.

CPSC 12/26/2012 – Honda is voluntarily recalling FourTrax ATV’s due to crash hazard.

FDA 12/26/2012 – GE Healthcare is voluntarily recalling the T-piece circuit used with GE Healthcare’s Giraffe and Panda resuscitation units due to inability to achieve maximum PIP (Peak Inspiratory Pressure), potentially harming patients.

CPSC 12/20/2012 – Sassy Inc. is voluntarily recalling Hug N’ Tug Baby Toys due to choking hazard.

CPSC 12/18/2012 – Norco is voluntarily recalling Havoc bicycles due to risk of injury because the bicycle frame can crack.

CPSC 12/18/2012 - Wilier Triestina is voluntarily recalling bicycles due to fall hazard because the fork’s steerer tube can break.

CPSC 12/17/2012 - Dunecraft is voluntarily recalling Water Balz, Skulls, Orbs and Flower Toys due to serious ingestion hazard (See below).

CPSC 12/12/12 – Baby Jogger is voluntarily recalling City Versa Strollers due to fall hazard.

NHTSA 12/10/12 – Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is voluntarily recalling Thomas Built school buses due to risk of injury because of overheating.

CPSC 12/10/12 – Reiss Innovators is voluntarily recalling high-powered rare earth magnet sets, sold exclusively at Amazon.com.

FDA 12/10/2012 – Mister Snacks, Inc. is voluntarily recalling Sunbird Snacks Yogurt Raisins due to undeclared peanuts.

FDA 12/8/2012 – Freshway Foods is voluntarily recalling out-of-date sliced apples because of possible health risk.

FDA 12/7/2012 – Sugar Flowers Plus Inc is voluntarily recalling Cake Decors Pastillage (gumpaste) Flowers due to undeclared egg whites.

CPSC 12/6/12 – Dream On Me is voluntarily recalling children’s bed rails due to suffocation and strangulation hazards.

CPSC 12/6/12 – Dream On Me is voluntarily recalling bath seats due to drowning hazard.

Drive to Safety!

Lexlees Kids — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:11:10 +0000

What are a few things one can witness when getting behind the wheel of a vehicle! Keys jingling? Phones ring-ring-ring? Drivers chattering? It’s very easy to become distracted while driving, but you must put measures in place to prevent being included in the distracted driver statistic. Don’t let distracted driving SHATTER your life! Save the talking and texting for later…Ready, Set…Let’s DRIVE!

Teens:

All right roadrunners, so you’re ready to drive, huh? With driving, comes a lot of responsibility…mainly your life and the lives of others. Give the parentals a break; they are more frightened than you are excited!

Safety, Safety and more Safety: seatbelts, no phones, no distractions, no alcohol, no speeding! Glad we could get that out of the way quickly…
Focus on the Road Ahead: Pay attention to the task at hand…DRIVING, and arriving SAFELY.
Lead the Way: Get involved in promoting safe driving among your peers! Create solutions, host events and fun activities to celebrate safe driving. Make a pledge and commit to being a safe, distraction-free driver. Fill out a pledge form and keep a copy at home, in your locker, in your car as a reminder. Make your parents fill one out too!
Speak Up: Don’t only be a great driver – be a great passenger! Make sure you are not the distraction and call your friends out, even your parents, if they are distracted while driving. Hey, it’s only your life you are speaking up for!

Parents:

That little plastic card is the cause of many restless days and sleepless nights. Here are some turn-by-turn directions to help get you through.

Clear Sky’s Ahead: Set clear and simple rules for your teen driver. Make sure you are following those safety rules too! Seatbelts, no phones, no distractions, no alcohol, no speeding!
Lead the Way: Let them drive! Day, night, rain, sun, fog, traffic, straight roads, curvy roads…LET THEM DRIVE! Play an active role in your teen gaining the experience needed to be a great driver! Without experience, they cannot be good drivers. And again…set a good example, make sure you are following the same safety rules you expect your teen to follow!
Safety, not Control: Make sure your teen knows that the rules are about safety, not controlling their life. As skills develop and they become more responsible, rewards and new privileges may be in order.
Can you Hear it: Listen to their concerns and be responsive.

Let’s take a stand, get the phone out of your hand!

If you have questions or comments about distracted driving and/or Ready, Set, DRIVE!, post here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225-372-3991.

Lexlee’s Kids Ready, Set, DRIVE! Program Sponsored by: Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and State Farm Insurance.

Lexlee's Kids - Child Safety and Injury Prevention

March & April Recalls are Overgrown this Spring!

3/15/2013 FDA: Nishimoto Trading Co., Ltd is voluntarily recalling packages of Kameda Brand Rice Cracker “Kotsubukko” snack food because they may contain undeclared milk. Keywords: Nishimoto, Kotsubukko, snacks, allergen, milk, rice, cracker

APRIL 1-15 RECALLS

Ever Think a Safety Product Could Hurt your Child?

Is After Market, an After Thought???

New Year, New Recalls!

JANUARY RECALLS

FEBRUARY RECALLS

Car Seat Confusion…Second-Hand Car Seats!

Asking for your Help! Please & Thank you!

Eeny Meeny Miny Moe…Where should all the Car Seats Go?

Ditch the Distractions!

Dear Santa, Please take December Recalls Away!

RECALL UPDATE ABOUT THE NAUGHTY NAP NANNY!

DECEMBER RECALLS

Drive to Safety!

3/15/2013 FDA: Nishimoto Trading Co., Ltd is voluntarily recalling packages of Kameda Brand Rice Cracker “Kotsubukko” snack food because they may contain undeclared milk.
Keywords: Nishimoto, Kotsubukko, snacks, allergen, milk, rice, cracker