Graco Stroller Recall: 2 Million Strollers Pulled After 4 Deaths

WASHINGTON — Baby gear maker Graco is recalling about 2 million strollers after receiving reports that four infants died in the strollers.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which announced the recall Wednesday, said the four infants became trapped inside the strollers and were strangled. The deaths occurred between 2003 and 2005.

The strollers being recalled are older versions of the Graco Quattro Tour and MetroLite strollers and travel systems, all made before 2007 and distributed by Graco Children's Products Inc. of Atlanta.

CPSC says if babies aren't strapped into the strollers properly, they can slide through the opening between the stroller tray and bottom of the seat - where they can get stuck and be strangled. The commission also said it was aware of five reports of infants becoming trapped, resulting in cuts and bruises, and one report of an infant having difficulty breathing.

The recalled strollers were made before the development in 2008 of a voluntary standard that requires a larger stroller opening between the stroller's tray and seat bottom in order to prevent entrapment and strangulation.

The recalled strollers were sold at retailers nationwide between November 2000 and December 2007.

More information on the model numbers involved in the recall can be found at the company's website, . http://www.gracobaby.com

Comments

[quindy]

04:09 PM on 10/20/2010

Babies these days are strapped like Formula 1 racers. It must be pretty uncomfortable to not be able to move. Toddlers will try to wiggle out. Modern strollers have everything except enough space for a child. Don't designers know that being strapped is not comfortable? Can't they design comfortable and SAFE strollers that don't cost a fortune, where child can move, stretch and lay down?

24 years ago I bought a Graco stroller for about $50 that I gave away after 4 years of daily use. It was lightweight, easy to fold and was very comfortable. There was a safety strap that allowed my son to turn left or right when he was sleeping. It kept him safe from falling out. Where are such strollers today?

[garder54]

11:58 AM on 10/21/2010

So basically you want a pack and play with a handle and two more wheels.

[quindy]

12:05 PM on 10/21/2010

Read my post again.

[angrymanspokane]

02:08 PM on 10/20/2010

This is one of those instances where you want to say, "how hard is it to make a baby stroller that is designed specifically not to kill babies?" Really, how hard?

[steve11407]

02:13 PM on 10/20/2010

While I agree in theory, its hard to fix stupid. "CPSC says if babies aren't strapped into the strollers properly"

[1Woman4Obama]

06:29 PM on 10/21/2010

Totally agree! My stroller isn't on this list but if not strapped in properly, my baby could easily slide out and crack her head open on the sidewalk. I'm not really sure why the stroller is being recalled here.....

[JStading]

12:58 PM on 10/20/2010

I am appalled by greedy lawyers who went to college and law school who are now suing on behalf of parents who lost children. Why are we so sue happy as a nation? Why don't we institute real tort reform, or just broad immunity for everyone so no one ever is accountable for anything they do?

Lawyers...............

[UnknownSolider]

02:44 PM on 10/20/2010

No lawyers = No Recall....... which = more baby deaths

Do you follow

[JStading]

02:47 PM on 10/20/2010

No, as someone who dislikes attorneys without any cause, I believe that all attorneys should incur great deals of debt and then work for free for the rest of their lives. I also believe that tort reform is needed to ensure that people who hurt others get off totally free.....I mean so that costs can be kept down.

[OldCowboy]

11:54 AM on 10/20/2010

Unbelievable. Four children died between 2003 and 2005 and they're just now recalling the defective strollers. Shouldn't there be some kind of huge fine for a 5 year delay?

[1Woman4Obama]

06:30 PM on 10/21/2010

Because the four children died because the parents (or other caregivers) failed to use the stroller properly. I'm not sure why the stroller has been recalled at all from this article -- all strollers present serious danger to infants if the infant is not properly strapped in.

[littlepuffycloud]

11:01 AM on 10/20/2010

This makes my feel like I could throw up. The market fixes itself all right..after 7 years and 4 babies' deaths.

[Dave A]

10:47 AM on 10/20/2010

We have two of these strollers :(

While I am saddened by the deaths, I am angry at the fact they happened between 2003 and 2005.
They applied a fix in 2007 to the new one's being sold and in 2010 this is the first I am hearing of it