Park Slope Reeling from Stroller Recall

MHAMWill's Flickr.

When news broke Monday that popular stroller company Maclaren would recall all the strollers they've sold since 1999, the eyes of the world turned to Park Slope. Would there be panic in the streets, stroller bonfires, and children reduced to walking? Naturally the Times was on the scene (the paper's Metro editor Joe Sexton is a life-long Park Sloper, which some say results in myopic Slope-centric news coverage) and found "a palpable sense of anxiety."

Dara Kass, mother of two and owner of four strollers, was in the Park Slope Starbucks to put everything in perspective: "There’s swine flu and Maclaren strollers. This is an alarmist neighborhood, so people are going to be anti-Maclaren until they fix the problem." In fact, not a singe parent interviewed by the Times was unaware of the recall, which was issued after a dozen children fingers were amputated by in the Maclaren carriage hinge.

However, the Times did find a few irresponsible, reckless parents who said they'd still use their Maclaren strollers despite the chance that precious Dylan could lose a pinky! Of course, none of those parents would let the paper print their names, "out of fear that they would come across as bad parents." Which is understandable; the last thing you want is the Park Slope stroller mafia after you, which is why this story has been filed from a heavily-armed fortified compound in DUMBO.

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By John Del Signore in News on November 11, 2009 2:30 PM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

"...that precious Dylan could lose a pinky!"

Ha! And Ethan is in imminent danger as well!

the3rdbridge

Yo those Maclarens are hot looking strollers. I don't even have kids and I want one. Is it wrong for a straight man to want to push his Yorkie around Park Slope in a stroller?

JenChungsBaby

Is it wrong for a straight man to have a Yorkie?

the3rdbridge

*He and his girlfriend's Yorkie

AnnaZed

"...after a dozen children fingers amputated...[sic]"

Ok then now that we have that straight.

I've seen this story a few times this week and I still can't fathom why the company didn't order a recall after the first finger amputation incident (I mean, good lord! that's pretty extreme) and why nobody is incensed that it took 12 children being maimed before the company responded. I doubt that this company will survive this, they are finished.

farleft

Wait till everyone learns that Maclaren strollers are not BPA free. Amputations are one thing, but BPA will bring them to their knees.

JenChungsBaby

MMMMmmmmmmmmmmmm..........interlock shoulder zip tunic dress........

Must hit refresh again.

the3rdbridge

Oh yeah baby!

Ed

At least Park Slope moms take care of their own babies. Tribeca moms walk along side their nannies who push their $1300 Stokke carts for them.

JenChungsBaby

MMMMmmmmmmm.................stretch velvet double u-neck long sleeve mini dress........

whitecastlerock

Must have used up all of the bike lane stories yesterday-so let's dredge up a defamatory article about concerned parents..

InWoodside

I'm thinking as long as I continue to fold it myself rather than let my two year do it, we'll both be okay.

Stewart

I agree, the stroller is not leaping out and biting kids fingers off. As the caregiver is folding or unfolding the stroller, they fail to notice that the child has inserted his/her finger into the hinge and press just a wee bit harder on the foot lever to overcome the increased resistance. Don't let your kid touch the stroller when you are folding or unfolding it, regardless of what type it is. Oh, and keep your hand out of the car door when slamming it too.