WASHINGTON -- Peg Perego recalled hundreds of thousands of strollers Tuesday because children can become trapped and strangled between trays on them. One death has already been reported.

A six-month-old boy from Tarzana, Calif. died of strangulation in a stroller in 2004, while a seven-month-old girl from New York was nearly strangled in 2006, according to Peg Perego USA Inc. The company said entrapment and strangulation can take place, particularly among those younger than a year old, when the child is not harnessed into the stroller. If unharnessed, children can pass through the opening between the tray and the seat bottom and the child's neck and head can become trapped by the tray.

Peg Perego is recalling approximately 223,000 strollers, which include Venezia and Pliko-P3 strollers in various colors, made between January 2004 and September 2007.

Only strollers with a child tray and one cup holder are part of the recall. Strollers with a bumper bar in front of the child or a tray with two cup holders are not included in this recall.

The company said the strollers were made before a voluntary industry standard was implemented in January 2008 that addresses the height of the opening between the stroller's tray and the seat bottom. The voluntary standard requires larger stroller openings that prevent infant entrapment and strangulation hazards.

The model numbers are:

Pliko-P3 Stroller Model Numbers Venezia Stroller Model Numbers

IPFR28US34xxxxxxxx IPPF28NA32 IPVA13MU09

IPFT28NA63 IPPF28NA57 IPVA13MU10

IPFT28NA64 IPPF28NA65 IPVA13US09

IPP328MU10 IPPF28NA66 IPVA13US10

IPP328MU09 IPPF28NA67 IPVA13US32

IPP328US09 IPPF28NA68 IPVA13US34

IPP328US10 IPPO28US32 IPVC13NA32

IPP329US10 IPPO28US34 IPVC13NA34

IPPA28US32 IPPO28US62

IPPA28US33 IPPO28US69

IPPA28US34 IPPO28US70

IPPD28NA34 IPPO28US71

The model number is located on a white label on the back of the Pliko P-3's stroller seat and on the Venezia stroller's footboard. "Peg Perego" and "Venezia" or "Pliko-P3" are printed on the side of the strollers.

The Pliko-P3 strollers were sold for between $270 and $330, while the Venezia strollers sold for $350 to $450. The strollers were sold at various retailers, including Buy Buy Baby and Babies R Us.

Separately, Kolcraft Enterprises Inc. is recalling some strollers due to potential falling and choking hazards.

The company is recalling about 5,600 of the Contours Options LT double strollers with model number ZT012 sold between February and July. However, no injuries have been reported.

The front wheel assembly can break, which could lead to a child falling out of the stroller. And the nuts that hold the stroller's basket support screws in place can detach on strollers made in January and February. The detached nuts are a potential choking hazard.

Kolcraft has received six reports of front caster wheels breaking and two reports of the basket's support screws and nuts detaching.

The model number and date the stroller was made can be found on a label on the stroller's rear leg. The strollers were involved in the recall include those in black with red canopies and accents and those in gray with yellow canopies and accents. The strollers have one mesh basket below the two seats.

The strollers were sold for about $250 in Burlington Coat Factory stores, at juvenile product specialty stores and on the websites of Amazon, Target and other retailers.

Original article from the Huffington Post here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/24/peg-perego-recall-strollers_n_1698909.html?ir=Parents

This is an article written by Maya Hammer, a psychologist who regularly does mental health workshops here at the cafe.

Maintaining a Healthy Relationship/Marriage Postpartum
By Maya Hammer
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Having a baby is hard on relationships!  Even happy and functional relationships become strained after the baby arrives, or after the arrival of a second or third child.  There is less time for each of you as individuals and for you as a couple.  Your relationship becomes transactional as you negotiate responsibilities with very little sleep. Here are some quick tips for maintaining a healthy relationship: 

Communicate Openly:  Be honest with your partner/spouse about how you are feeling so that you avoid build up of anger and resentment.  Some moms report the need for empathy and emotional support, while others require more practical support such as breaks from the kids and help with laundry, cooking, or cleaning.  Be specific about the type of help that you need.  Seasoned moms Stacie Cockrell, Cathy O’Neill, and Julia Stone shed light on some of the communication challenges new and experienced parents may face in their insightful and humourous book Babyproofing Your Marriage. 

Take care of yourselves:  Each of you requires time for self-care so that you can be loving, patient, and present when you spend time together.  Encourage your partner to engage in fun, healthy, and meaningful activities and ask him or her to support you in your endeavours.  Renee Peterson Trudeau’s book The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal suggests ways to reconnect with yourself, create balance, and attain optimal well-being in your new role and identity as a parent. 

 

Divide Labour:  Make a list of chores and responsibilities and assign yourselves to those that you enjoy most.  Let go of the chores you are not in charge of.  Outsource when you can:  hire a cleaner, a personal chef, postpartum doula, or child care provider.  Prioritize important tasks and leave other items on your To Do list for a later date.

Plan dates:  Plan weekly or biweekly dates.  Hire a babysitter or ask a friend or family member to babysit so that you can get out of the house.  Enjoy home dates too when you leave laundry or dishes for later so you can watch a movie, play scrabble, or enjoy a glass of wine.

Nurture intimacy:  Physical intimacy facilitates emotional connection.  Plan a date for sex, preferably daytime if possible as you may be less tired.  If you are not interested in intercourse, be creative!  There are many ways to be intimate. Great Sex for Moms by Valerie Davis Raskin provides sound advice for reclaiming your sex life.

Couples counselling is a safe place to voice concerns, explore issues, mediate discussions, learn effective communication strategies, and deepen your connection to each other.

Maya Hammer, M.A., Counselling Psychology                               

www.mayahammer.ca