Cash for kiddie clunkers

In an effort to keep potentially unsafe children’s items from being resold, Toys “R” Us Inc. is launching a program that allows consumers to trade in used cribs, car seats and other baby products for discounts on new items in those categories.

For each used item consumers bring in to Babies “R” Us or Toys “R” Us locations nationwide, they will receive a 20% discount on any new product from select manufacturers. Additional products that can be brought in are bassinets, strollers, travel systems, play yards and high chairs. “We felt these were categories that were somewhat suspect, either because of the nature of the category or because there have been a large number of recalls in the category,” said Jerry Storch, chairman and chief executive of the Wayne, N.J. company. “We feel it’s critical to get these older products out of the chain of commerce.”

Indeed, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and safety advocacy groups are urging people to be more careful about buying and selling used products that could be dangerous. In 2008, 563 product recalls were issued, up from 472 the year before and 402 in 2005, according to the CPSC. Items that have been recalled range from cribs to play yards to children’s metal jewelry.

Parents should also be aware of safety concerns involving certain products, even if they have not been recalled. For instance, with cribs, regulations for safety testing have changed in recent years and older products may not meet the new requirements. And car seats have expiration dates because materials can deteriorate over time, potentially making the product less effective in a crash.

The program, known as the “Great Trade-In” event, will run from Aug. 28 to Sept. 20. Toys “R” Us encourages day-care centers or other organizations who want to exchange items in bulk to contact their local store beforehand to ensure availability of new merchandise.