Safety Archive

Britax, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Health Canada, and Profeco (Mexico), is conducting a voluntary recall of all Britax B-Agile and BOB Motion stroller models listed below.

When used as a travel system with the Click & Go receivers to attach the carseat to the stroller frame, the receiver mount may be damaged and cause the carseat to disengage unexpectedly and fall. If the carseat falls to the ground, the child may be injured.

Model numbers for single strollers are located on the inside of the stroller frame near the right rear wheel. For double strollers, it’s located on the front middle underside of the frame. Models affected:

B-Agile

BOB Motion

What should you do:

• Stop using the carseat on the stroller as a travel system IMMEDIATELY. It is completely SAFE to continue using your stroller in the recline mode for infants though.
• Go to www.us.britax.com/recall or call 1-844-227-0300 to request a free repair kit that contains a new set of Click & Go receivers and instructions.

4moms is issuing a recall on its self-installing carseat manufactured between July 1, 2016 and October 31, 2016. The recall affects about 2% of 1,622 carseats, or about 33 carseats, manufactured during this time. There have been no reported injuries at this time.

On some carriers, the coupling hooks that lock the carrier into the base have been improperly riveted, potentially causing them to stick and not attach to the base. The coupling hook failure has only been observed after extended use and testing. Again, there have been no reported injuries.

Fix: 4moms will send owners a new carrier starting January 13, 2017

What should you do: Visit the 4moms recall site to see if your carseat is affected. You can continue to use your affected carrier until you receive the new one.

• Check to make sure the carrier is locked into the base by pulling up on the handle after the carrier is placed into the base. If it isn’t locked into the base, then . . .
• Install the carrier without the base. The carrier can be installed “Euro style” as shown by Kecia in this video (demonstrating on a Nuna Pipa):

If you have other questions, you can call the 4moms Customer Care Team at 1-888-614-6667

There are a number of reasons why we love living in California and starting January 1st, there’s one more reason to add to the list. On the first day of 2017, California will join a small group of states that require children to remain rear facing until age 2 (with a few specific caveats).

Several existing laws remain in place, including:
1. All children under age 8 must be buckled into a car seat or booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle.
2. All children 8 years or older or 4’9″ or taller may use the vehicle seat belt if it fits them properly.

But the newest component replaces the previous 1 year and 20 pounds rear facing minimum requirement. California law states (Sections 27360 27360.5 27360.6 27363) :

“Effective January 1, 2017, children under 2 years of age shall ride in a rear-facing car seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds OR is 40 or more inches tall. The child shall be secured in a manner that complies with the height and weight limits specified by the manufacturer of the car seat.”

Violating these laws carries a fine that can exceed $500 for each improperly restrained child, as well as having points added to the driver’s license. In short, it’s not worth it, especially when you consider that ignoring this law puts your child at risk of death or significant injury.

The law is written so that families of children who are very tall and/or heavy do not have to buy an expensive extended rear facing seat to make it to age 2. To clarify, the 40 pound/inch caveat should not be used to imply that rear facing is somehow less important for a 40 pound or 40 inch 18-month toddler, because it’s not. Science shows us that it is anatomical development (which comes with age), not the height or weight, that makes a young child less at risk for catastrophic neck injuries in a crash when forward facing.

We have known for a long time that rear facing is safer than forward facing for every person, and especially for infants up until at least age 2. It’s nice to see state legislatures like California’s catching up to the research and helping nudge parents to keep their children as safe as possible in the car.  Be sure to see our list of the best convertible carseats for extended rear-facing!