Maclaren is recalling nine of its stroller models due to the risk of finger amputation. The stroller hinge has amputated the fingertips of 12 toddlers while it was being unfolded. The affected models are: Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, Techno XLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller. This recall means that, if you own one of these strollers, you will be able to obtain a free hinge cover kit by contacting Maclaren.

A worker was killed in the crush Friday after a throng of shoppers eager for post-Thanksgiving bargains burst through the doors at a suburban Wal-Mart, authorities said . . . “He was bum-rushed by 200 people,” co-worker Jimmy Overby, 43, told the Daily News. “They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me. They took me down too. … I literally had to fight people off my back.” – As reported by the AP

I was shocked, saddened, and angry when I first heard of the intentional melamine contamination of baby formula in China that was making thousands of babies ill and responsible for the deaths of at least three babies. Well, the AP has just reported that trace amounts of this same industrial chemical was found in baby formula made by three major U.S.-based companies:

The three firms ? Abbott Laboratories, Nestle and Mead Johnson ? manufacture more than 90 percent of all infant formula produced in the United States.

The FDA and other experts said the melamine contamination in U.S.-made formula had occurred during the manufacturing process, rather than intentionally.

However, the FDA is saying that this is apparently nothing to worry about since only very low levels of melamine were found. Well, I’m worried. Yet another good reason to breastfeed.

All these recalls make me a bit nervous purchasing things for Pooky. Here’s another one from Mattel which recalls another 9 million toys, including Polly Pocket dolls and Batman action figures:

Toy-making giant Mattel Inc. issued recalls Tuesday for about 9 million Chinese-made toys that contain magnets children can swallow or which could have lead paint.

The recalls includes 7.3 million play sets, including Polly Pocket dolls and Batman action figures, and 253,000 die cast cars that contain lead paint. The action was announced on the company’s Web site and at a news conference here by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Read the AP article
Read the Recall Notice

The Portland Ikea just opened this past week. I’m planning on dropping in Monday or Tuesday to check out the fuss (and the meatballs).

Check this out: The Oslo, Norway Ikea will be operating a hostel on site to host sleepovers for shoppers!

Later this month, Ikea Norway will let shoppers sleep overnight in one of its two Oslo warehouses, an operation that will last a week. “It will be like an alternative hostel,” said company spokesman Frode Ullebust.

“There will be the regular dormitory with lots of beds stacked up together. We will also have a bridal suite, with a round bed and a hanging chandelier, and the luxury suite, where customers can enjoy breakfast in bed,” he said. Family rooms will also be available for parents and children to join into the Ikea fun. None of the guests will be charged for their stay.

Mr Ullebust said that, as far as he knew, this was Ikea’s first foray into the hotel business. Every night, the 30 lucky few will be able to stack up on meatballs, Norwegian salmon and cranberry mousse, as Ikea is offering free dinner and breakfast at the usual canteen.

Crazy.

(via Boing Boing)

Okay, so it wasn’t literally Sodor; It was in China at the Thomas the Tank Engine toy manufacturing factory.

As an American journalist based in China, I knew there was a good chance that at some point I?d be detained for pursuing a story. I just never thought I?d be held hostage by a toy factory.

That?s what happened last Monday, when for nine hours I was held, along with a translator and a photographer, by the suppliers of the popular Thomas & Friends toy rail sets.

?You?ve intruded on our property,? one factory boss shouted at me. ?Tell me, what exactly is the purpose of this visit?? When I answered that I had come to meet the maker of a toy that had recently been recalled in the United States because it contained lead paint, he suggested I was really a commercial spy intent on stealing the secrets to the factory?s toy manufacturing process.

Read the rest of this account by this New York Times journalist.

(via Boing Boing)

You’ve probably heard about the recall of 1.5 million Thomas the Tank Engine “Thomas & Friends” railway toys, but I wanted to post it here just in case anyone may have missed it since they’re such popular items. They’re being recalled because paints were used on them that contain lead.

Here are other recalls of children’s products you should be aware of:

Clip-on Baby Books Recalled Due to Choking Hazard
Parents® Magazine Toy Cell Phones Recalled for Choking Hazard
Simplicity Recalls Cribs Due to Fall, Entrapment and Choking Hazards
Fisher-Price Rainforest Infant Swings Recalled Due to Entrapment Hazard

I’ve written before about products designed to turn your baby into a genius. I was skeptical then, and remain so now. Here’s a new article from USA Today reinforcing the fact that there’s no magic baby product out there that can be shown to increase intelligence. A cynic might wonder if the companies that make and market these products are manipulating parents, making them feel irresponsible for not providing their children with an advantage, when, in fact, the truest advantage a baby can have is quality time interacting with real people.

As if I wasn’t anxious enough about baby getting older and leaving our sphere of control, I happened upon this blog post from Steven Parker, MD, WebMD’s pediatrics expert. In it, Dr. Parker shares what he’s learned about the new, technology-enhanced bullying. He lists its most common forms:

• Someone takes a dorky or compromising picture of a child (e.g., in the locker room) on their cell phone and then it gets sent around and around to everyone and his uncle (on their cell phones or email).
• Mean or threatening or humiliating e-mail or cell phone text messages are anonymously sent and distributed to everyone.
• A blog – read by all – posts the question: “Who is the biggest slut in the school” and offers suggestions of whom the winner should be, and why.
• “Text wars” are waged on a hapless victim, inundating him/her with cruel messages, not to mention a horrific cell phone bill.
• Confidential, revealing, embarrassing e-mails are sent all around.
• A fake, horrible e-mail is sent by an impersonator under your child’s name to others.

Reading this stuff breaks my heart. I think sometimes we forget that while children can be innocent and pure, they also can be astonishingly cruel to each other. Just like adults.

This will only become more of a problem in the future, and at some point, I think schools, cell phone companies, law enforcement, etc. will have to do more to curb this kind of behavior. I’m not sure parents can do it alone. In the meantime, I recommend reading the rest of Dr. Parker’s post for ways to prevent this from happening to your child.

Infantino Recalls SlingRider Infant Sling Carriers Due to Fall Hazard
Hanna Andersson Recalls Children?s Loungewear Due to Burn Hazard
Children?s Mood Necklaces Recalled Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard
Children?s Necklaces Sold Exclusively at Claire?s Stores Recalled
Children?s Stationery Sets Recalled Due to Laceration Hazard
Children?s Necklaces Sold Exclusively at Accessories Palace Recalled
Youth Jackets with Drawstrings Recalled Due to Strangulation Hazard
Nordstrom Recalls Children?s Flannel Lounge Pants Due to Burn Hazard
H & M Recalls Boy?s Jackets Due to Choking, Poisoning Hazards
Toys ?R? Us Recalls ?Elite Operations? Toy Sets

YouTube has created a number of celebrities, and it’s just been brought to our attention (via CBSNews.com) that the very talented Nia was discovered through YouTube by Mary J. Blige and has a starring role in a commercial for Blige’s new album. Nia’s always been a star, but now even more people will know about her.

Here’s the commercial. You never know where things lead when you post on the internet these days!

Click here to view the embedded video.

You can also check out all of Nia’s YouTube videos here.