Issue and Safety Risk:

Graco Children’s Products Inc. (“Graco”) shipped 10,828 stand-alone¹ SnugRide infant restraint systems into Canada that could present a potential choking hazard. These restraint systems have less dense backing material for the seat pad combined with a seat pad design that may allow children to access the fiber fill in the seat pad itself.

This does not affect the ability of the infant restraint system to protect a child in the case of a motor vehicle crash.

Background and Company Action:

In reviewing its U.S. consumer complaint files, Graco observed a significant increase in 2007 of consumer complaints regarding incidents of children picking at, removing, or putting in their mouth fiber fill from SnugRide car seat pads. There have been no incidents reported in Canada.

Based on this increase in complaints in the U.S., Graco opened an internal investigation. In analyzing the data, Graco has determined that the majority of the complaints involved seats manufactured in Macedonia, Ohio, between August 1st, 2006 and June 30th, 2007. Graco has also determined that during this time period, the type of fiber backing used in the affected seats was of a lower density than the fiber backing traditionally used by Graco in the infant restraint systems. Graco believes that this lower density fiber backing may be more prone to deterioration or tearing, especially after washing.

Graco also determined that many of these complaints involved a particular seat pad design – described as the “no-pleat design”. This seat pad is cut differently than other SnugRide pads and does not provide the same coverage of the infant restraint shell. Consequently, the underside of the pad is more readily accessible to the child.

Graco believes that the combination of the no-pleat design and the less dense backing material is the direct cause of the increase in complaints.

Graco increased the density of the backing material used in these seats manufactured in its Macedonia, Ohio facility beginning in June 2007. Graco also modified assembly and quality control procedures to prevent a recurrence of this issue.

Consumer Action and Recourse:

Elfe Juvenile Products, the Canadian importer and distributor of this product, is conducting a safety advisory program to alert consumers of the issue. They will also provide kits that include a replacement seat pad to registered owners of the identified models of SnugRide. Consumers who have not registered their infant restraint system or require assistance should contact Elfe Juvenile Products at 1-800-667-8184. Consumers should not return the affected units to a retailer.

¹ This notice does not affect SnugRide models sold as a travel system. A travel system includes a stroller, an infant car seat, and a car seat base.