According to a press release from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Canadian company Angelcare is voluntarily recalling the Angelcare Movement and Sound Baby Monitors.  The product poses a risk to infants because the cord attached to the baby monitor’s sensor pad is placed under the crib mattress.  That cord poses a strangulation risk if the child pulls the cord into the crib and it becomes wrapped around the neck.

Thus far, Angelcare and CPSC have received reports of two infant cord strangulation deaths. In November 2011, a 13-month-old female died in San Diego, California, and, in August 2004, an 8-month-old female died in Salem, Oregon.  In both fatalities, the cord from the sensor pads was pulled into the crib by the infant. In addition, there have been two reports of infants who became entangled in cords of Angelcare baby monitor models, which did not result in fatalities. In these incidents, it could not be determined which of the product’s cords was involved in the incident.

The voluntary recall is being administered in conjunction with Health Canada.  However, the Canadian agency has not yet received any reports of incidents or injuries to residents of Canada using this product.  Between 2003 and 2013, the products were sold in Canada and they began being sold earlier in the U.S., starting in 1999.

CBC Canada reports that about 182,173 were sold in Canada and about 600,000 in the U.S. at prices ranging from $100 to $300.  The monitors were manufactured in China and sold at various Canadian and U.S. retailers, including Babies R Us/Toys R Us, Burlington Coat Factory, Meijer, Sears, Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, Target.com, Overstock.com and nearly 70 small baby specialty stores.

The company is offering a repair to remedy the strangulation risk. Consumers may request a repair kit that includes rigid protective cord covers through which the sensor pad cords can be threaded.  The repair kit also includes a new, permanent electric cord warning label about the strangulation risk as well as revised instructions. In the meantime, cords should be placed out of reach of the child.

This is not the first time that baby monitor cords have presented a risk to infants.  In February 2011, CPSC issued a safety alert warning consumers that industry-wide there had been seven reports of strangulation in baby monitor cords since 2002.  Since that alert, the number of death reports has risen to eight.  Two of the total deaths involved the Angelcare monitors with sensor cords.