The Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls baby and children's products almost every week. Last year there were over 200 recalls affecting millions of units. And honestly? Most parents never hear about them.
That's a problem. You might have a recalled crib, car seat, or stroller sitting in your house right now and not even know it.
WHAT THE CPSC ACTUALLY DOES
The CPSC is the federal agency that oversees the safety of consumer products — everything from cribs to clothing to toys. When a product is found to be defective or dangerous, the CPSC works with the manufacturer to issue a recall.
Recalls come in different flavors. Sometimes it's a full stop-using-this-immediately recall. Sometimes it's a repair kit the manufacturer sends you. Sometimes it's a refund. The severity depends on the risk.
How Recalls Work in Practice
Here's the typical timeline: a product hurts someone (or multiple people), reports pile up, the CPSC investigates, and eventually a recall is issued. This process can take months. Sometimes years.
By the time a recall goes public, thousands of families may already own the product. And the recall announcement? It shows up on cpsc.gov and maybe gets picked up by a few news outlets. Unless it's something huge like a popular car seat brand, it probably won't cross your social media feed.
That means it's on you to stay informed.
How to Actually Stay Updated
First, sign up for email alerts at cpsc.gov/recalls. You can filter by product category — select "children's products" and "nursery equipment" at minimum. You'll get emails when new recalls are announced.
Second, register your products. That registration card that comes in the box? Actually fill it out. Manufacturers are legally required to notify registered owners when a recall happens. If they don't have your info, they can't reach you.
Third, check your existing stuff. Go to cpsc.gov right now and search for products you already own. Model numbers are usually on a label on the bottom or back. It takes five minutes and could genuinely matter.
Secondhand Products are the Blind Spot
This is where it gets tricky. Recalled products get resold on Facebook Marketplace, at garage sales, and through hand-me-downs constantly. The original owner might not know about the recall, or they might not care.
Before you accept or buy any used baby product, check the model number against the CPSC recall database. Cribs, car seats, and strollers are the biggest risk categories. Some recalled cribs have caused deaths — they should never be used, period.
What "voluntary Recall" Means
Almost all recalls are technically "voluntary." This doesn't mean optional. It means the manufacturer agreed to do the recall cooperatively with the CPSC instead of being forced to by a court order. The products are still dangerous. The recall is still real. Don't let the word "voluntary" make you think it's no big deal.
When to Stop Using a Product
If something you own gets recalled, stop using it immediately. Don't wait for the repair kit to arrive. Don't figure you'll get around to it next week. Put it in the garage or a closet where nobody can use it until you've completed the recall remedy.
This sounds extreme until you read what some of these recalls are for: strangulation hazards, fall risks, fire dangers, suffocation. These aren't theoretical — they're based on real incidents.
Staying on top of recalls isn't fun. It's not exciting. But it's one of the simplest, most concrete things you can do to keep your kid safe.