Playtex Hip Hammock Recall Issued Following Infant Falls From Carrier

Following dozens of reports involving buckles and straps on Playtex Hip Hammocks breaking and causing babies to fall, federal safety regulators have announced a recall for more than 340,000 of the infant carriers sold nationwide. 

The Playtex Hip Hammock recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on December 19, after at least 87 reports were received of the straps and buckles cracking. The problems have resulted in at least two confirmed injuries suffered by children who fell from the infant carriers, including at least one that was rushed to the hospital and required emergency treatment.

The Hip Hammocks are infant carriers designed to strap a baby against the caregiver’s body at the hip. The carrier is attached to straps that wrap around the caregiver’s waist and shoulders. If the straps break, the child could fall from as high as the chest height of the person to whom the carrier is attached.

The recall includes Playtex Hip Hammocks for infants weighing 15 to 35 pounds, with model numbers 05300, 05301, 05302, 05302, 05306, 05307, and 05308 sewn inside the panel below the instructions for use. The carriers come in deluxe and basic styles that are black or navy colored suede on the outside and black, burgundy, or black and white on the inside.

The affected infant carriers were manufactured in China Under Playtex Products Inc. of Dover, Delaware where they were sold at Burlington Coat Factory, Target, Walmart, juvenile product, baby, and discount stores nationwide as well as online at amazon.com from June 2004 through December 2008 and January 2010 in Canada for about $40 for the basic model and $60 for the deluxe model.

An estimated 305,000 carriers were sold in the United States and about 36,000 were sold in Canada.

The CPSC recommends that consumers with affected products stop using them immediately and contact Playtex at 800-522-8230 or visit them online at www.playtexproducts.com and navigate to the recall section for more information on how to return the product for a full refund.