Maclaren recalling unknown number of overpriced baby strollers

It’s a bad month for yuppies and bobos with babies.

First there was botulism in the organic pears. Then the Baby Einstein DVDs did nothing to get your kid into an ivy league school sometime in the future. Now, Maclaren strollers are being recalled and it’s unclear which of the several models of overpriced, overhyped strollers you dropped a few hundred clams on when you could have gotten the same exact thing for $20 at Target are affected by the recall. Is there nothing sacred left for upper middle class to upper class people who prefer to overspend on parenting do-dads to add to the already contentious vibe in the air at Mommy and Milates? Won’t someone think of the children? The McMansion dwelling, designer clothing clad, Bugaboo riding children?

Maclaren has an undated, nebulous statement on their site but the recall looks pretty broad. A link at the bottom to a Children’s safety group joint-announcing the recall is broken, so it’s impossible to discern whether this recall involves possible finger amputation and lacerations or if the Maclaren stroller family is afflicted with a new, deadlier form of stroller danger. ABC indicates the recalls are one and the same:

British stroller maker Maclaren is recalling a million strollers sold between 1999 and the present. The company has received a dozen reports of children’s fingertips getting amputated in a hinge on the strollers.

The hinge is on the side of the strollers and there have been incidents with children getting into the strollers as well as when they’re already seated. Parents should immediately stop using their Maclaren strollers until they can get a repair kit. Maclaren will be providing a hinge cover via its Web ite and a special phone line beginning tomorrow.

Maclaren’s most recent recall info from their site seems to match the report, but dates would be ever so helpful.

Consistent with our unwavering commitment to child safety we are providing U.S. consumers notice of a voluntary recall of all Maclaren umbrella strollers sold in the U.S. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, we are providing free of charge to all affected consumers and retailers a kit to cover the stroller’s hinge mechanism, which poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller. The affected models include Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, Techno XLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.

Maclaren USA’s Umbrella Strollers meet all U.S. ASTM JPMA compliance standards. These certifications guarantee our umbrella strollers meet the maximum safety standards available. The voluntary recall is to alert the operator when opening or closing the stroller of the possible risk of injury.

Safety is our first priority and through this voluntary effort we urge consumers to contact us immediately to obtain the kit which consists of hinge covers designed specifically to fit all Maclaren strollers.

Maclaren stresses all operators read the instruction manual prior to use which contains valuable safety tips and service recommendations.