Children’s Clothing

Children of all ages are at risk of injury from wearing defective clothing that does not comply with the federal standard regulations. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has set forth federal standard regulations regarding the manufacturing and sale of children’s clothing, including standards on flammability, lead content, small parts, and drawstrings. In addition, certain label requirements must also be met. If any federal standards set forth by the CPSC are not complied with in the manufacturing and sale of a children’s garment, the product is subject to recall.

Defective Clothing for Children

Numerous children’s clothing items have been recalled in recent years, primarily as a result of the federal standard regulations set forth by the CPSC concerning the manufacturing and sale of children’s clothing. Children’s clothing can pose a variety of risks, including the risk of small parts such as rhinestones or snaps that may detach and pose a choking hazard, flammability requirements not being met, or lead paint being used in the design that exceeds government standard levels regulated by law. One of the greatest hazards in children’s clothing is drawstrings, as they have been linked to a number of injuries and deaths in recent years.

Injury and Death Statistics Related to Children’s Clothing

The CPSC received reports of at least 27 deaths of children in connection with drawstrings on children’s clothing from 1985 to 2008, as well as 70 non-fatal incidents.

Examples of Defective Children’s Clothing

Examples of defective children’s clothing that has been recalled include:

Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings

DMF Sales of New York, New York, recalled approximately 18,300 boys’ fleece and flannel zip hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings as a result of a strangulation hazard. The hooded sweatshirts were not in compliance with CPSC federal standard regulations regarding the manufacturing of children’s clothing. These sweatshirts, with brand name “Bay Trading,” were sold exclusively at Burlington Coat Factory between September 2006 and October 2009.

Little Miss Matched Girls Pajama Sets

In 2009, Little Miss Matched Inc. of New York, New York, recalled the Little Miss Matched Girls’ pajama sets because they failed to meet flammability regulations as set forth by the CPSC for children’s sleepwear. About 7,000 units were recalled in the U.S., and approximately 288 were recalled in Canada. Long sleeve girl’s and toddler’s pajama sets were included in this recall. The pajamas were available in black, pink, or white with stripes and polka dots. The pajama sets were sold through various retailers from March 2008 to November 2009 in Canada, and March 2008 to July 2009 nationwide.

Clark’s Children’s Shoes

C&J Clark America Inc. of Newton, Massachusetts, recalled approximately 2,000 units of “crawlers” and “hazy daze” children’s shoes as a result of a choking hazard posed to young children. Parts of the sole on the shoes can become detached. While there have been no reports received from the U.S., in the United Kingdom, six reports were received regarding this issue. In two of the instances, children were reported to have placed pieces of the rubber sole in their mouths.

Havaianas Brand Children’s Flip-Flops

Alpargatas USA Inc. of New York, New York, recalled approximately 210,000 units of children’s flip-flops as a result of a failure to comply with federal standard regulations regarding lead levels in products manufactured and sold for children. The decorative soles of the flip-flops contain lead paint at levels that are higher than the regulated standard mandated by the CPSC. The flip-flops were sold at specialty and department stores across the nation from November 2006 to February 2009.

Resources

Boys’ Hooded Jacket Recall

On May 27, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Hind Fashions announced a safety recall of approximately 200 boys’ hooded jackets with drawstrings due to a possible strangulation hazard. The jackets do not comply with industry standards for drawstrings that were put in place by the CPSC in 1997.

The recall affects the following styles of boys’ hooded jackets (with drawstrings) that were sold in Burlington Coat Factory stores nationwide from January 2006 through September 2009 for between $30 and $90:

Blue suede “Hind Leather” jacket with fur lining, available in sizes 6 through 12
Black quilted “Lil’ Phat” leather jacket with fur around the hood, available in sizes small, medium, and large

Consumers are advised to immediately remove the drawstrings from the recalled jackets and return the product to Hind Fashions or Burlington Coat Factory for a full refund. Hind Fashions can be reached at 888-643-4463.

Children’s Hoodies Recall

On April 15, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Niko’s Sportsline announced a voluntary recall of approximately 3,200 children’s hooded sweatshirts, citing a possible strangulation hazard from the drawstrings found around the hood of the garments.

The hooded sweatshirts violate CPSC guidelines that were issued in 1996 to help prevent children from being strangled by drawstrings found around the neck or waist of certain garments.

The recall affects all children’s Niko’s brand hooded sweatshirts, sized 2T through 5T, that have a tag that reads “Niko’s SPORTSLINE” sewn on the back neck of the garment. The following colors are included in the recall:

Brown
Denim
Kiwi
Mango
Periwinkle
Pink
Rust

The hoodies were sold in gift shops, children’s stores, souvenir shops, and resort stores in the following states from June 2007 through January 2008 for $8:

Delaware
Florida
Louisiana
New Jersey
Maryland
Michigan

Consumers are urged to remove the drawstrings from the products immediately and return the sweatshirts to GJC International of Florida Inc. for a full refund. The company can be reached at 954-581-4646.

Children’s Snowsuit Recall

On April 13, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Deux par Deux Minimome Inc. of Canada, announced a voluntary recall of approximately 4,500 children’s snowsuits and coats, citing a possible strangulation hazard from the drawstrings found on the garments.

The snowsuits and coats violate CPSC guidelines that were issued in 1996 to help prevent children from being strangled by drawstrings found around the neck or waist of certain garments.

The current recall affects all children’s snowsuits and coats in sizes 2-12 with “Deux par Deux” and the style number printed on the neck tag. Approximately 64 different styles of snowsuits and 15 styles of coats, sold between 2005 and 2010, are affected by the recall. The snowsuits were sold for $190 and the coats were sold for $120 at small boutique retailers in the United States.

Consumers are urged to take the recalled garments away from children immediately and remove the drawstrings. The products can be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund. Deux par Deux can be contacted at 866-557-2222 or online.

Sources:

http://www.DeuxparDeux.com

Children’s Nylon Jacket Recall

On February 2, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and GTM Sportswear Inc. announced a voluntary recall of approximately 210,000 children’s jackets with drawstrings due to a possible strangulation hazard. The jackets do not comply with industry standards put in place by the CPSC in 1997.

The recall affects all colors of children’s hooded nylon jackets in sizes XXS-XL (2T-16) with “GTM Sportswear” on a label sewn in the neck of the garments. Styles affected by the recall include:

Youth Achiever Jacket (YJA161)
Youth Booster Jacket (YJA150)
Youth Dominator Jacket (YJA3800)
Youth Eclipse Jacket (YLJA186)
Youth Legacy Jacket (YJAPT01)
Youth Medalist Jacket (YJA180)

The recalled jackets were available from January 2003 through December 2009 at various stores nationwide including GTM Sportswear, K-State Super Store, Cats Closet, Just for Kix catalogs, and online.

Consumers are urged to immediately remove drawstrings from the jackets and return the product for a full refund. GTM Sportswear can be contacted at 800-437-9560.

Gap Baby Swimsuit Recall

On April 30, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Health Canada, and Gap Inc. announced a safety recall of approximately 7,000 Gap baby swimsuits, after the swimsuits were found to pose a strangulation hazard to children. The swimsuits have a plastic ring at the neck that can press against a child’s throat and obstruct the airway, due to halter straps that were manufactured too short.

The recall affects the Gap blue and white baby swimsuit and the red and white swimsuit, with style numbers 706260 and 700452, respectively. The swimsuits were available in infant sizes up to 24 months and were sold at babyGap, GapKids, Gap, and Gap Outlet stores nationwide from February 2010 through April 2010 for around $20.

Gap has received two reports of the plastic ring pressing on a child’s throat and causing problems, though no injuries have been reported.

Girls’ Hooded Jacket Recall

On April 21, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Trendset Originals LLC, of New York, N.Y., announced a voluntary recall of more than 2,400 girls’ hooded jackets, due to an entanglement hazard to young children. The hooded jackets have drawstrings through the hood and waist that are in violation to industry standards issued in 1997.

The current recall affects two different styles of girls’ jackets, including:

Shampoo brand jackets (denim) with a pink hood and pink sleeves (sizes 5/6, 7/8, 10/12, 14/16)
Marci & Me brand sweater jackets (black or tan; sizes 7/8, 10/12, 14/16)

The jackets were sold in Burlington Coat Factory stores nationwide from September 2007 through September 2009. Consumers are urged to remove the drawstrings immediately from the jackets to eliminate the strangulation hazard, and consumers may return the jackets to any Burlington Coat factory store for a full refund.

Trendset Originals can be contacted at 800-908-8308.

Junk Food Sweatshirt Recall

On May 13, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Junk Food Clothing Co., of Los Angeles, California, announced a safety recall of approximately 24,000 children’s hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings at the neck, due to a strangulation hazard. The sweatshirts can be dangerous to children and are in violation of industry standards set forth by the CPSC.

The recall affects all “Junk Food” brand pullover and zippered hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings, sold in various print designs and sizes. The sweatshirts were sold nationwide from June 2006 through August 2009 for about $35, and were available in the following colors and style numbers:

Powder blue (JF957-1111K)
Watermelon (LM564-1001C)
Apple (LT114-1001K)
Grass (J3442-1111C)
Light pink (MP051-1111K)
Flashdance (LM323-1111I)

Consumers are advised to remove the drawstrings immediately from the recalled sweatshirts and return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Tommy Hilfiger Recall

On May 13, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Health Canada, and Tommy Hilfiger U.S.A. Inc. announced a safety recall of approximately 1,700 Tommy Hilfiger sweatshirts in the U.S. and Canada, after the sweatshirts were found to fail to meet federal flammability standards for apparel. The sweatshirts pose a burn hazard to consumers, as they can easily catch fire when exposed to a flame or spark.

The recall affects all Tommy Hilfiger brand children’s sweatshirts in sizes 4 to 16, with the letters “N.Y.C.” and “Hilfiger College” printed on the front. The sweatshirts were sold from August 2009 through January 2010. The following styles have been recalled:

Noah Hooded Zip L/S (black zippered jacket, style number E552217830)
Leo Mini Hooded Zipthru (orange and brown hooded sweatshirt with zipper, style number BJ52217867)
Leo Hooded Sweat (orange, brown, or black hooded pullover, style number E552217832)

Consumers are advised to stop using the recalled sweatshirts immediately and contact Tommy Hilfiger at 800-866-6922 to receive a full refund.