Baby Toy Warning

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, as a precaution, is issuing a warning on the Shelcore "8 in 1 Play Center" with four corner holes manufactured prior to 1988. Play Centers manufactured after July, 1988 do not contain four corner holes and are not subject to this notice.

Consumers are warned not to attach the Play Center by strings to a crib or playpen. If strings are not tied tightly or become loosened with use, the string between the toy and the crib may present a potential strangulation hazard if a child places his neck over the excess string. The Company never received a consumer complaint or report of injury associated with this product.

The Play Center, model No. 61012, measures approximately 10 inches by 10 inches by one inch and contains four corner holes and eight multi-colored, eight-sided individual toys which can be pulled out and played with separately. The toy was designed for children between the ages of nine to 36 months. The toys were sold nationwide for about $8.50 each. To date, approximately 400,000 units have been sold.

Attachment to a mesh-sided playpen is more dangerous than to a wooden crib or playpen since the flexible mesh creates a greater potential for entrapment. In July, 1988, Shelcore, Inc. redesigned the product without corner holes so it cannot be attached to anything. Play centers which do not contain four corner holes are not subject to this warning.

Consumers who have attached the Play Center to a crib or playpen by strings should immediately cut and throw away the strings. The toy can still be used safely on the floor of a crib or playpen.