Learning about product recalls and staying informed isn’t hard. It just takes a few extra steps to make sure you are prepared.

  1. LEARN ABOUT THE PROBLEM: Visit safekidsca.org and watch the videos on product recalls. Learn more about dangers and what you can do to keep your children safe.
  2. LOOK-UP YOUR CURRENT PRODUCTS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVEN’T BEEN RECALLED: First, make an inventory of the products used for your kids. Toys’R’Us, Inc. offers a Product Record List (available here) for you to fill out information. By keeping a record of product model numbers and other information, you can easily determine if they are affected in the event of a recall. Use this list to look-up all of your products at www.recalls.gov
  3. BECOME AND EXPERT ON PRODUCT RECALLS: Sign-up for alerts and attend our free webinar on product recalls
  4. REGISTER NEW PURCHASES: Return all product registration cards to the manufacturer (or complete registration online if available) immediately after making a purchase. Read new product instructions completely to ensure proper use, including following all age-grading and supervision recommendations. Keep all instructions and manuals, especially for items like cribs that may have to be assembled and disassembled for use and storage.
  5. BECOME A PRODUCT SAFETY EXPERT: Register your e-mail address at Recalls.gov and Toysrus.com/Safety to receive notifications when a product is recalled. Bookmark Recalls.gov and check all currently owned products to make sure they haven’t been recalled. Check again when you receive gifts. Pay attention to expiration dates (on items like car seats, for example) and keep close track of everyday wear and tear that could impact a product’s safety.
  6. BE MINDFUL OF USING SECONDHAND PRODUCTS: Leading safety organizations recommend against purchasing used cribs, play yards and bassinets. Safety experts also suggest consumers do not buy used car seats, as these could have damage from an accident, or there could be deterioration of materials from sun exposure, which is difficult to detect.
  7. SPREAD THE WORD: Share the Product Record List (available here) with friends, family members, and caregivers (such as daycare centers and babysitters) and encourage them to keep their own document of all baby products currently in their use. Ask them to sign up for recall notifications and check Recalls.gov to ensure all products currently in use are safe.
  8. ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS: Demand to know caregivers’ policies for checking products for safety. When traveling, call your car rental location, hotel, friends or family members to ask what car seats, cribs, high chairs, strollers, and swings you will be using for your child, and before you go, check model numbers against Recalls.gov to make sure all products are safe.
  9. REPORT PROBLEMS: If you encounter safety concerns or problems with products, report them immediately to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) via its website, CPSC.gov. If you have a concern regarding a car seat or booster seat, report it to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at its website, NHTSA.gov.
  10. TAKE SAFETY SERIOUSLY: Items are not recalled without evidence of potential injury or danger to a child. Ensure that you, your family members, your friends and anyone caring for your child take recalls seriously and remove all unsafe products immediately.

 

SAFETY SITES:

  • The Consumer Product Safety Commission provides safety information on numerous products. This independent federal regulatory agency is responsible for product recalls. Search this site for products you have in your home and sign up for automatic recall notices here.
  • To provide better service in alerting the American people to unsafe, hazardous or defective products, six federal agencies with vastly different jurisdictions have joined together to create www.recalls.gov — a “one stop shop” for U.S. Government recalls.
  • Kids In Danger is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children by improving children’s product safety. They provide extensive information about product recalls and safety information.
  • SaferProducts.gov is the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database website of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). This is the CPSC site for reporting incidents with consumer products and searching the database for reports and recalls on products.
  • This information center is dedicated to helping resellers keep unsafe products out of the hands of consumers. Consumers who regularly buy used products may also find this information helpful in avoiding products that could harm them or their family.
  • Safety Education Centers: CPSC information centers provide tips, background information, history and resources. Stay informed, stay safe!
  • National Highway Transportation Safety Administration – Recall information about cars and car seats
  • Food and Drug Administration Recent Recalls and FDA Recall Archives – Information about food and drug recalls, warnings, and food safety
  • Consumer Federation of America – An advocacy, educational and membership organization working to advance pro-consumer policy on a variety of issues.
  • Consumers Union – Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, is an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization serving only consumers.
  • Public Citizen – A national, nonprofit consumer advocacy organization founded by Ralph Nader to represent consumer interests in Congress, the executive branch and the courts.
  • U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) – An alliance of state-based, citizen-funded organizations that advocate for the public interest.
  • Anchored for Safety – A nonprofit dedicated to advancing the education of the general public on the dangers of un-anchored soccer goals and promoting overall soccer goal safety.
  • ANSI – Great page to learn more about consumer product safety standards including those covering children’s products.
  • Car-Safety.Org – A nonprofit, volunteer web site that provides parents with correct and up-to-date information on the selection and safe installation of child safety restraints, including car seats, as well as vehicle safety.
  • Healthytoys.org – The consumer action guide to toxic chemicals in toys.
  • Katie’s Foundation for Child Safety – A nonprofit organization established to educate the public on the potential hazard of falling furniture and to help ensure and protect the safety of all children both inside and outside the home.
  • Keeping Babies Safe – A nonprofit organization to provide leadership in keeping babies safe from preventable injuries and deaths associated with unsafe cribs, dangerous children’s products and unsafe sleep environments.
  • Kids and Cars – A nonprofit organization addressing vehicle related non-traffic incidents that lead to death and injury when children are left unattended in or around a vehicle.
  • North Carolina Consumer Council – The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) is a nonprofit organization representing consumers, both within and beyond the borders of North Carolina, and their interests as a whole.
  • Parents For Window Blind Safety
    A non-profit organization established to help educate America about the serious hazards of corded window treatments.
  • Safe Kids – A organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury – the number one killer of children ages 14 and under.
  • SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. – A national nonprofit organization dedicated to child passenger safety.
  • Seatcheck.org – A car seat inspection locator service.
  • Shane’s Foundation – An organization dedicated to furniture safety.
  • SIDS of Illinois – Sudden Infant Death Services of Illinois (“SIDS of Illinois”) is dedicated to the prevention and eventual elimination of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other causes of infant death.

Toys:

  • Toy recall information and education
  • Toy safety toolkits
  • TOYSAFETY.net is a project of the National Association of State Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs). The information contained on this site is published annually in the state PIRGs Trouble in Toyland Report.

Fact Sheets:

  • Kids in Danger continually updates and creates new publications to meet the information needs of parents, caregivers, the media and policymakers. Looking for guidelines on safety or product use; up-to-date news from CPSC or KID; or specifics on second-hand products, sleep environments or other topics
  • CPSC needs your help to spread safety messages to your community. Their Neighborhood Safety Network resources are designed to help you, your contacts and your community learn about hazards and promote safety and health.

Videos:

APPs:

  • CPSC Announces Winners of First-Ever Apps Challenge New Apps Help Consumers Track Recalls Product Safety Incidents