Peg Perego recalled hundreds of thousands of strollers because children can become trapped and strangled between trays on them. One death has already been reported. A 6-month-old boy from Tarzana, Calif., died of strangulation in a stroller in 2004, while a 7-month-old girl from New York was nearly strangled in 2006, according to Peg Perego USA Inc. (And it took this long to have them recalled, why?)
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.
How to recognize if your stroller is affected: Check the child tray of their Pliko P3 or Venezia stroller. Only strollers that have a child tray with one cup holder are part of this 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 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. Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the strollers and contact Peg Perego for a free repair kit at (888) 734-6020 or on its web site, www.PegPeregoUSA.com
