Health Canada and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) (www.cpsc.gov) have issued a joint recall of Peapod and Peapod Plus Travel Tents. Reports have been received of infants becoming trapped along the sides of the tent, creating a risk of suffocation.

The portable tent is designed and marketed as a portable sleep tent with an inflatable mattress for use with infants and small children. The tent folds compactly into a round fabric bag which can be used for transporting and storing the tent. One side of the tent provides a zippered opening for entry and exit and the floor of the tent contains a zippered pocket into which the inflatable mattress should be inserted. The recalled models include the KidCo Peapod Travel Bed and Peapod Plus Travel Bed.

The Peapod tents were sold in specialty children’s stores from January 2005 until recently. The tents were made in China and retail anywhere from $70 to $100.

The manufacturer of the product, KidCo of Libertyville, IL, is cooperating with the voluntary recall of approximately 220,000 of its PeaPod and PeaPod Plus Travel Beds. The tent is equipped with an inflatable air mattress. If an infant or small child rolls off the mattress they can become trapped between the mattress and the side of the tent which is made of fabric. If this happens, there is a potential for suffocation.

CPSC and Health Canada Aware of Incidents with Peapod Tents

The CPSC is aware of the death of a five month old boy in New York City last year. The boy was found trapped against the side of the tent however the cause of death has not been determined.

The CPSC has also received six reports of infant entrapment between the sides of the tent and the mattress bottom. Also, Health Canada reports three additional incidents of entrapment related to the recalled product. In some incidents, infants were found underneath the mattress which had not been properly installed into the zippered pocket on the floor of the tent.

The CPSC advises that consumers who own the affected tents should stop using them immediately. KidCo will be supplying a free repair kit which will be available beginning in December 2012. The kits will vary depending on the model.

The kits will include updated instructions and warning labels that the tents should not be used with children under the age of 1 year old.