Recalls: Drop-Side Cribs, Pourable Gel Fuel & Ballard Design Step Stools

There have been several consumer recalls over the past couple of days that may affect Money, Marriage & Motherhood readers. Please refer to the links included in each section for more details about the specific recalls:

Drop-Side Cribs:

• J. C. Penney Purchasing Corp., of Plano, Texas announced a voluntary recall of Drop-Side Cribs because the drop-side rails on the crib can malfunction, detach or unexpectedly fall down, causing part of the drop side to fall out of position. When this happens, a space is created into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged or entrapped, which can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A child can also fall out of the crib. Drop-side incidents can also occur due to incorrect assembly and due to age-related wear and tear. For recalled model numbers, descriptions and date code, go here. The affected cribs were sold at jcpenney.com and in the JCPenney catalog from January 2006 through December 2010 for between $300 and $450.

• Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and contact Yu Wei to get a free immobilizer kit that will immobilize the drop side. In the meantime, parents are encouraged to find an alternate, safe sleep environment for the child, such as a bassinet, play yard or toddler bed depending on your child’s age. For additional information, contact Yu Wei at (877) 806-8190 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website, or email the firm to order a free immobilizer kit.

Pourable Gel Fuel:

• Bird Brain Inc. of Ypsilanti, Mich. announced a voluntary recall of about 1.6 million bottles and cans of Bird Brain Firepot Fuel Gel, Bird Brain Firepot Citronella Fuel Gel and Bird Brain BioFuel Fuel Gel because the pourable gel fuel can ignite unexpectedly and splatter onto people and objects nearby when it is poured into a firepot that is still burning. This hazard can occur if the consumer does not see the flame or is not aware that the firepot is still ignited. Gel fuel that splatters and ignites can pose fire and burn risks to consumers that can be fatal. For a complete list of model names, sizes, item numbers and UPCs, go here. The recalled pourable gel fuel was sold at Sears, K-Mart, Target and other major retailers; Amazon.com, Target.com, Buy.com and various online specialty, home and garden, pet and gift shops and independent retailers from October 2008 through August 2011. Individual units were sold for between $8 and $18. Multi-packs were sold for between for between $18 and $136.

• Consumers should immediately stop using the pourable gel fuel and return the gel fuel to the company for a full refund. For additional information, contact Bird Brain toll-free at (877) 414-0842 anytime (live operators available between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday) or visit the company’s website.

Step Stools:

• Ballard Design Step Stools

• Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

**You can find additional posts regarding Recalls HERE**