Toys “R” Us, Inc. ‘Great Trade-In’ Event January 30th, 2012

Media Contacts:
Toys“R”Us, Inc.
Jennifer Albano                                    Katie Reczek
(973) 617-5632                                     (973) 617-4381
Jennifer.Albano@toysrus.com         Katie.Reczek@toysrus.com

TOYS“R”US, INC. URGES PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO HELP REMOVE UNSAFE ITEMS FROM THE MARKETPLACE DURING UPCOMING ‘GREAT TRADE-IN’ EVENT

Since its Inception, the ‘Great Trade-In’ Event Has Successfully Removed Approximately 600,000 Products from Homes, Garages and Attics

Study by Safety Advocacy Group Kids In Danger Finds Many Recalled Products Remain in Circulation and Continue to Pose Harm to Infants and Children

 

WAYNE, NJ (January 25, 2012) – Toys“R”Us, Inc. today issued a new call to action for customers to rid their homes of potentially unsafe old and second-hand baby products and exchange them for savings on a new item during the “Great Trade-In” event.  This national safety program, first introduced in August 2009, draws attention to certain used baby products that can carry potential hazards, but are still in circulation, making them poor candidates to be handed down or resold.  In fact, according to product safety advocacy organization Kids In Danger, recalled products that have not yet been removed from homes and other facilities have continued to cause harm to infants and children.

In 2011, Kids In Danger conducted an analysis of product safety issues reported at SaferProducts.gov, an online database where consumers can share concerns about product safety with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The analysis found that one in seven of the reports and injuries included in the database regarding children or children’s products involved products that had been recalled, with most of the incidents occurring after the item was recalled.

“The ‘Great Trade-In’ event was conceived to raise awareness of the dangers surrounding used and second-hand products that are still in circulation, and we’re proud of the impact the program has made since its inception,” said Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys“R”Us, Inc. “Toys“R”Us is committed to ensuring the safety of children, and we continue to stay at the forefront of emerging safety concerns, while offering parents and caregivers the safest products available.”

Since the first “Great Trade-In” event, approximately 600,000 used and potentially unsafe baby products have been removed from circulation and turned in at “R”Us^® stores nationwide. Some traded-in items were missing parts or were damaged, while others that were decades old showed obvious signs of wear and tear and would be considered non-compliant by today’s more stringent product safety standards.

The company’s sixth “Great Trade-In” event begins Friday, January 27 and continues through Monday, February 20 in Babies“R”Us^® and Toys“R”Us^® locations nationwide.  During this time, stores will accept any used cribs, car seats, bassinets, strollers, travel systems, play yards, high chairs, kids’ beds, swings, walkers, bouncers and entertainers in exchange for a 25% savings on the purchase of a new baby item, in any of these product categories, from select manufacturers.  Through this program, Toys“R”Us, Inc. continues to raise awareness among parents about ways to be proactive where children’s safety is concerned.

The CPSC advocates not purchasing used items that have a history of safety problems, including cribs, play yards and bassinets.  Items in these specific categories may have been recalled or affected by recent enhancements to federal or voluntary standards and regulations for safety testing that render older models unsafe or non-compliant with current standards.

Brands participating in the “Great Trade-In” event include Babi Italia^®, Babies“R”Us, Baby Cache^®, Baby Einstein^™, Baby Trend^®, Bergamo^®, Bright Starts^™, Britax^®, Carter’s^®, Chicco^®, Combi^®, Contours by Kolcraft^®, Delta^™, Europa Baby^®, Evenflo^®, Graco^®, Jeep^®, Lamaze^®, Little Tikes^®, Maxi-Cosi^®, Safety 1^st®, S1 by Safety 1^st®, Signature Series by Graco^®, Sorelle^™, Step2^® and Summer Infant^®.  Customers can save 25% on a new purchase, within any of the specified product categories, from any of the aforementioned manufacturers, in Babies“R”Us and Toys“R”Us stores nationwide on the day they trade in their used item.

Customers may exchange any number of used items, from any manufacturer, in the specified product categories.  Day care centers or other organizations who wish to exchange items in bulk are encouraged to contact their local Babies“R”Us or Toys“R”Us store prior to returning their used items to ensure adequate availability of new merchandise.

Additional Safety Resources for Parents and Caregivers

In addition to the “Great Trade-In” event, Toys“R”Us, Inc. offers the following resources to help parents and caregivers keep their children safe:

• Toysrus.com/Safety, the company’s dedicated Safety website, features information on the company’s industry-leading safety standards for products sold through its stores and websites, seasonal tips for preventing accidental injury and product recall information.
• Recall notifications sent via e-mail by signing up through Toysrus.com/Safety, which approximately 280,000 customers have done since the feature was made available.
• Current recall information is posted on easily-visible Safety boards at each store location.
• Tools and resources for parents to keep track of the products in use in their homes with a Product Record List and Eight Steps to Keep Kids Safe checklist is available online at Toysrus.com/Safety and in-stores upon request. These tools are designed to make relevant product information readily available in the event of a recall so parents and caregivers can act quickly to remove unsafe products from use.

About Toys“R”Us, Inc.

Toys“R”Us, Inc. is the world’s leading dedicated toy and juvenile products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 879 Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and in more than 600 international stores and over 150 licensed stores in 35 countries and jurisdictions. In addition, it exclusively operates the legendary FAO Schwarz brand and sells extraordinary toys in the brand’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com, eToys.com and FAO.com, it provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. Headquartered in Wayne, NJ, Toys“R”Us, Inc. employs approximately 70,000 associates annually worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. Additional information about Toys“R”Us, Inc. can be found on Toysrusinc.com. Follow Toys“R”Us, Babies“R”Us and FAO Schwarz on Facebook at Facebook.com/Toysrus, Facebook.com/Babiesrus and Facebook.com/FAO and on Twitter at Twitter.com/Toysrus and Twitter.com/Babiesrus.

Contact your Congressman January 10th, 2012

Please visit http://www.cjsids.org/component/content/article/145.html to learn more about The Stillbirth and SUID Prevention, Education Awareness Act (S1862/HR3418) and notify for you Congressman!

IKEA Recalls to Repair High Chairs Due to Fall Hazard January 9th, 2012

IKEA Recalls to Repair High Chairs Due to Fall Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: ANTILOP High Chairs

Units: About 169,000 (133,000 in the U.S. and 36,000 in Canada)

Importer: IKEA North America Services LLC, of Conshohocken, Pa.

Hazard: The high chair’s restraint buckle can open unexpectedly, posing a fall hazard to the child.

Incidents/Injuries: IKEA has received eight reports worldwide of restraint buckles that opened unexpectedly, including three reports of children who received minor injuries after falling from the high chair.

Description: This recall involves ANTILOP high chairs sold in red, blue or white. The plastic high chair has detachable silver-colored metal legs. High chairs included in the recall have a manufacture date between 0607 and 0911 (YYMM format) from supplier number 17389. The production date and supplier number are molded into the underside of the seat. “ANTILOP,” “IKEA” and the model number are printed on a label affixed to the underside of the seat. Model numbers included in the recall are:

ANTILOP high chair blue — Model # 701.467.92
ANTILOP high chair red — Model # 501.467.93
ANTILOP high chair white — Model # 300.697.24

Sold exclusively at: IKEA stores nationwide from August 2006 through January 2010 for about $20.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the high chairs and contact IKEA to obtain a free replacement seat restraint.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact IKEA toll-free at (866) 966-4532 anytime, or visit the firm’s website at www.ikea-usa.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1488

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12079.html

Bugaboo Bee Strollers Recalled by Bugaboo Americas Due to Fall Hazard January 3rd, 2012

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission www.cpsc.gov
Health Canada www.hc-sc.gc.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2011
Release #12-066

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 460-2922
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
HC Media Contact: (613) 957-2983

Bugaboo Bee Strollers Recalled by Bugaboo Americas Due to Fall Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Bugaboo Bee Strollers
Units: About 7,000 in the United States and 260 in Canada
Importer: Bugaboo Americas, of El Segundo, Calif.

Hazard: The front swivel wheels can lock while the stroller is in motion, causing the stroller to tip and posing a fall hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Four incidents have been reported where the stroller’s swivel wheels locked and the stroller tipped over. In two of these incidents, a baby and a toddler suffered minor injuries.

Description: The recalled strollers are made for newborns and toddlers up to 37 pounds. They are sold in two frame colors: silver and all black. The stroller’s seat comes in black or denim colors and canopy colors include yellow, black, khaki, blue, pink and red, plus special collections colors such as tangerine, soft pink, light green, dark purple, denim and the Missoni print collection. Production dates from January 2011 through September 2011, which are printed with the month abbreviated and year, i.e “Jan. 2011″, the “Bugaboo Bee” name and company address are printed on the date code label located on the stroller frame under the seat unit. “Bugaboo Bee” is also printed on the side of the seat backrest.

Sold by: Toys R Us, Buy Buy Baby and other baby product stores nationwide, online at Bugaboo.com and other online retailers between February 2011 and September 2011 for about $650.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled strollers and contact Bugaboo or the retailer where the stroller was purchased to receive free replacement swivel wheels.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Bugaboo at serviceus@bugaboo.com or at (800) 460-2922 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at http://www.bugaboo.com/non-swiveling-wheels

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1486

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including a picture of the recalled product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12066.html