The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in conjunction with Big Lots Stores, Inc is recalling its’ Wooden Bunk Beds for repairs due to potential collapse and fall hazards.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using recalled bunk beds and contact Big Lots to return the defective parts and to receive a free repair kit.

Contact Big Lots Stores, Inc’s Recall Hotline: (866) 244-5687 for further instruction.

Hazard: The bunk beds’ mattress support slats and side support railings can break, posing a risk of the bunk bed collapsing and a fall hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Big Lots has received 14 reports of the recalled bunk beds’ support slats cracking or breaking, including four reports of minor injuries.

Description: This recall includes wooden bunk beds with a three step ladder. Model numbers WP-9108-1 and WP-9108-2 are included in this recall. The model number is located on a sticker on the bunk bed’s interior panel of the headboard or the footboard.

Sold exclusively at: Big Lots stores nationwide from May 2008 through February 2009 for about $300.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Big Lots toll-free at (866) 244-5687 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.biglots.com

Child Safety Gate Recall – Safety 1st Stair Gates Due to Fall Hazard

On August 6, 2009 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Dorel Juvenile Group, announced a voluntary recall of Safety 1st SmartLight Stair Gates.

No injuries have been reported, but it has been found that the hinges that hold the stair gate in place can break and pose a potential falling hazard to children if the gate is placed at the top of stairs. This product was also previously recalled in February 2009. If you have this Stairway Gate you should stop using it immediately and contact the company for a free repair kit.

Description: The recall involves the Safety 1st SmartLight Stair Gate with model number 42111, which is printed on a sticker under the handle panel. The gates, which were manufactured before December 20, 2008, are white metal with a gray handle and a motion sensor nightlight that illuminates on approach. The manufacture date is located below the gate’s handle as a date wheel imprinted in the plastic; an arrow indicates the month, and the year is stamped inside the circle. The manufacture date is also printed on a sticker inside the battery door.

Consumer Contact: Consumers can call Dorel Juvenile Group toll-free at (866) 690-2540 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET; complete an online order form on the Dorel Juvenile Group Web site at www.djgusa.com/safety_notice/ to obtain their free repair kit; email the company at Smartlightgate@djgusa.com, or send a fax to (800) 207-8182. Consumers should not return the stair gates to retail stores.

Create a sense of independence and mastery in your child by allowing him/her to safely “do it myself.”

The Learning Tower provides safety and versatility not found with traditional step stools. This is the only step stool on the market designed to meet the specific needs of young toddlers 18mos to 3 years old. This product meets top safety standards and is tested to hold up to 500lbs.

The benefits of The Learning Tower are to:

* Foster a positive self-image and a sense of independence in small children as they climb up and down without assistance
* Welcome the child as a helping participant alongside parents and siblings
* Nurture a child’s innate desire to be independent and inquisitive
* Provide adults the peace of mind to work freely knowing their little ones are safely at their side

The Learning Tower Step Stool is On Sale Now for $189 and has fast shipping. The Learning Tower makes an ideal gift and is also great for Grandma’s home where children love to help cook!

Purchase the Learning Tower here.

All babies begin crawling or become mobile according to their own time frame, but generally this happens between 6 and 10 months of age. Therefore, it is critical to prepare your house for this event to ensure your child’s safety!

Below is a Home Safety Checklist that will help you go room by room in your home and look for potential child safety hazards.

Edge & Corner Protection – Every room in the house should be checked for sharp edges and corners. These objects should be removed or covered with edge and corner cushions or bumpers. Coffee tables, end tables, and fireplace hearths are the typical items to consider. Other household items to check for sharp edges in your safety inspection are desks, entertainment centers, shelves, cabinets, window sills, stone or marble stairs, statues or other decoration pieces.

Stairway Protection – All stairways that your baby could potentially have access to should have stairway safety gates. According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign (NSKC), Falls Fact Sheet, 2004, falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury for children. Children ages 14 and under account for one-third of all fall-related visits to hospital emergency rooms. Because falls are associated with a child’s curiosity and development of motor skills, babies and toddlers are at the greatest risk of fall-related death and injury. Children ages 5 and under accounted for nearly half of the fall related emergency room injuries cited above. Please do not let your child become one of these statistics. Research and install stairway safety gates. Also examine the slats in your stairways and banister to determine if a banister guard is needed.

Choking and Ingestion Hazards – Now that your child is or about to become mobile, check your home for small objects that could potentially be within your child’s reach such as small marbles or stones that are often used as decoration around candles or other coffee table center pieces. As part of normal development, babies learn by putting things in their mouth. Remove glass or other breakable/valuable objects. Set dog and cat food out of reach. Use extreme caution and do your research on chemicals if you have your home exterminated or use chemical products to clean (consider organic, non toxic products). Babies and toddlers crawl around on the floor and often but their hands and objects in their mouth. In most cases this also helps them build their immune system, but we have to do our part to keep them safe from serious injury. Check all floor level cabinets for cleaning products, medicine, makeup, alcohols, etc. and move them to a top cabinet or install safety latches or cabinet sliding locks.

Falling Furniture – Check your home for large items that could fall over and bolt them to the wall. Too many child injuries have occurred due to televisions, entertainment centers, and bookshelves falling over on children. Toddlers like to climb! Additional things to consider as potential falling hazards are computer monitors, large vases, plant stands, and dressers.

Kitchen Safety – As stated earlier ensure that cleaning/chemical products are in a locked cupboard or placed well out of reach. Consider installing a stove guard to prevent burns or a child playing with the knobs and turning the gas on. Move kitchen knife racks well out of reach. Toddlers enjoy helping out in the kitchen and it is important to their developmental growth and independence to do things for themselves, but standing on chairs and stools can also become a fall hazard. Consider investing in a step stool with side rails such as the Learning Tower Child Step Stool. Children should always be well monitored while standing on stools or chairs.

Electrical Hazards – All unused electrical outlets should have outlet plug covers and cords should be placed out of the way as much as possible. In bathrooms, never leave blow dryers or other electrical items plugged in and unattended near the sink or bath tub.

Windows & Shade Cords – For homes that are two stories or have high windows consider installing window guards if you frequently open your windows. This is especially important in a child’s room. Shade cords should be tied up and out of reach of children. For some reason these cords tend to attract children’s’ attention as a play item and can be extremely dangerous if the cord gets wrapped around them.

As well as child proofing your home, child safety gates are an ideal way to keep your child contained and safe. As a mother of two children, I know how quickly a child can crawl or run if you turn your back for a minute to attend to house hold chores. Give yourself that piece of mind knowing that your child is learning by exploring his world, but contained to safe areas of your home!

Sherry L. Martin, Mother and Owner of Active One Safety Gates. To view a selection of Child Safety Gates, Edge & Corner Protection, and other Child Safety Products, visit ActiveOneSafetyGates.com

As a mother of two active children, I know the fears, trials, and tribulations associated with raising young children and keeping them safe and out of mischief! I hope you will find useful safety and product information in this site and will contribute your thoughts and experiences.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sherry Martin
www.activeonesafetygates.com