@BeyondtheTech: 11 out of 1 million over 10 years is probably just above the number of people that fraudulently claim amputations for payouts.

The bigger question is why parents are letting their kids stick their fingers in the stollers while they are being closed.

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zarex42

@BeyondtheTech:

Well, when you have only a 0.0011% chance of an accident, that's really not too horrible. But good for them for fixing it.

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ExtraCelestial

@zarex42: It is when you're that 0.0011%.

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zarex42

@ExtraCelestial: Yeah, it sucks, but going aggressively after things with extremely minuscule risks only makes sense from a PR standpoint, not a \"reality\" one.

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TCama

@BeyondtheTech: Cost-benefit analysis. There's probably a tipping point where the cost of additional lawsuit settlements becomes higher than the cost of recalling a million strollers. Considering the fact that these are all the company's strollers since 1999, either the lawsuits were really expensive or the strollers are really cheap.

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TCama

@TCama: I take that back. The company isn't replacing the strollers, it's just giving people protective covers for the hinges. So that's a hell of a lot cheaper than a bunch of lawsuits.

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jaya9581

For anyone that's confused: It's \"Maclaren\", not \"Maclauren\".

I've bought my sister 2 of these over the years, a single and a double. We've never had a problem. We don't try to fold/unfold the stroller while the children are touching them. ANY stroller could catch fingers during some part of the folding/unfolding process. I've pinched my fingers in my own Graco stroller several times.

I guess if they're going to replace my sister's strollers with brand new ones, it might be worth it.

3 replies

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FatLynn

@jaya9581: I was once involved in a similar recall, and the liability has to do with the very specific design of the pinch point. What material is it? How much force can easily be exerted to close the stroller, and what is the resulting torque at the pinch point? And so on...

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Cocotte

@FatLynn: That's my thought exactly - the difference being being able to pinch your finger, or being able to REMOVE your finger.

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valueofaloonie

@jaya9581: They're not replacing the strollers. They're sending plastic hinge covers to stores and to anyone who filled out a registration card.

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dmolavi

as an owner of one of the strollers in this recall (a double stroller for my twins), i'm shocked it took 12 amputations for them to realize something's amiss. i didn't pay $400 for a finger amputator.

6 replies

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Jeff-er-ee

@dmolavi: Hey, for $400, it BETTER include a finger amputator.

Wait...no...

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YouDidWhatNow?

@dmolavi:

IANA engineer, but I'm pretty sure that just about anything with a folding hinge can be a finger amputator.

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FatLynn

@YouDidWhatNow?: I am an engineer, and it depends on the design of the pinch point.

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sleze69

@dmolavi: You got ripped off. There must be plenty of do-it-yourself finger amputators available online for free (with parts costing perhaps $10).

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@sleze69: you can actually make one at home with $8 kitchen scissors.

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shepd

@The Porkchop Express:

Cigar slicer + heavy object. :)

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Con Seannery

@shepd: Just what I was thinking.

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zentex

@dmolavi: i didn't pay $400 for a finger amputator.

apparently you DID though ;-) Consider it an added feature, not a flaw. On the upside, at least it doesn't Julianne fingers...

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dreamking

'recall' is a misnomer, no? They're not actually recalling or replacing the strollers. They're sending out 2 hinge covers to stores and those who filled out a registration card. They're not taking responsibility for installing the covers, either. And stores are only getting enough so they can install them on their unsold inventory.

1 replies

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Rachacha

@dreamking: \"Recall\" is simply the generic term used by the CPSC for removing an unsafe product from the market. Manufacturers, with CPSC's approval, are free to repair, replace, or recall the offending product. If you wanted to get technical, a recall would apply only to products that were returned and for which a complete refund were issued.

In this situation, they are offering a repair part. Hopefully they don't have the same firm that designed the repair kit for the EZ Bake Oven design the kit, where the guard that was added, actually trapped a chilt's hand in the oven more, and caused more severe burns.

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G.O.B.: Come on!

I pointed the finger of blame squarely at Maclaren.

Then they cut if off.

2 replies

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shoegazer

@G.O.B.: Come on!: Wins the thread. Two thumbs up (assuming they weren't cut off too).

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TheSkaAssassin - College Man

@G.O.B.: Come on!: +5 Humorous

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npage148

A pricey stroller is the equivalent of a mob enforcers with a pair of bolt cutters

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halcyondays

Strollers like that are complete waste of money. We bought one for our first child--they are large and unwieldy and we eventually got tired of it. By the time we had our third child, we had gotten a simple folding umbrella stroller and use that all the time. It's light and easy to store.

6 replies

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Gracegottcha

@halcyondays: Be careful with those umbrella strollers too. I amputated the bottom of my toe trying to open with with my bare foot. Stupid, I know!

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webweazel

@halcyondays: We got the Jeep 3-wheel (lock, unlock front wheel) one for our youngster from day one. We're very outdoorsy anyway. We installed some bicycle head lights for nighttime use. We've taken it on hikes in the woods, down dirtbike trails, through streams, all around grassy parks, miles and miles all over Savannah city, and we like to take it to the flea markets, because the load capacity is very large. We've used it so much, the tires have lost most of their treads. Still solid as a rock, and we'll be sad to see it go to yard sale soon, as the little one is outgrowing it.

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pecan 3.14159265

@halcyondays: Aren't those unbelievably easy to tip over though? Also, where did you store your large amounts of baby supplies? I always see parents who have to carry a baby bag, and that gets tedious. Usually, the bag is put in the compartment behind the stroller - what did you do with your stuff if you just used the umbrella stroller?

I wouldn't say they were a waste of time. From my experience, anything that has ample storage space to keep your hands free is a good thing.

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Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!)

@pecan 3.14159265: Depends on the amount of crap you lug around. I find I very rarely need the diaper bag ... I have a big purse (and it's NOT A MOM PURSE, I REFUSE TO GIVE IN!) that will fit a diaper, travel wipes, burp cloth, and pacifier, and that takes us most everywhere we need to go. (I leave the full diaper bag in the car so I have it if needed, but rarely needed so far.) When we go on \"outings,\" usually I'm with my husband so one of us carries the baby, the other one carries the crap.

I do like my (Graco) stroller for the farmer's market and for walking to and from the stores I can get to on foot from my house ... I just stash the bags underneath and off we go. It does take up a buttload of space in the trunk of the car, though, if I'm taking it with me somewhere.

If you're on a day-long outing, you definitely want a full diaper bag, and probably a more serious baby toting system. If you're running errands or something, less can be more.

Also, the cats can sleep in the Graco, but they collapse the umbrella stroller when they try that. :P

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webweazel

@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): We see people lugging around those behemoth diaper bags, and we feel sorry for them. We had a tiny bag, too.

We had a great idea for when our munchkin was on formula--we bought smaller ziploc bags at the craft store, filled them with a measured amount of formula, wrote the measurement on the bag, say, \"6 oz.\" and stuck some in the diaper bag. This way, we didn't have to carry extra bottles of mixed formula that would get cold, and we could always find a restaurant that would fill the bottle with (6 oz.) lukewarm water for us. Then, we would just pour in the powder, shake, and serve. Especially nice if our outings took longer than expected. We would, of course, have to keep cycling the powder in the bags so they would stay fresh.

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Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!)

@webweazel: They make formula powder \"sticks\" now, long skinny packets that make up 4 oz. each and you can slide 2 or 3 of them into an 8 oz. bottle. I'm breastfeeding, but my husband keeps some in his car.

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webweazel

@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!):
HEY! They stole my idea! I oughtta sue!
hahahahaha
Although I bet my idea probably ends up cheaper. Whenever they put things into \"convenience packs\" they usually \"packs\" the price up 4 or 5 times higher for our \"convenience\".

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SharkD

@pecan 3.14159265: I suggest looking at the G-Luxe from UPPAbaby. We love ours, as does our 9-month old. We've been using it with him since he was 3 months old. We bought it on the recommendation of the authors of Baby Bargains.

It's very lightweight, has real rubber tires and a mesh cargo basket that holds a loaded diaper bag.

The best part? It cost all of $120, and should last him until he's 40lbs.

IMHO, Maclaren and Bugaboo are ludicrously overpriced.

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neega

@sharkd: Maclarens are a sixth of the price of Bugaboos. Sure not $20 or free with purchase from BRU but it's hard to lump the two brands together.

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Taelech

@neega: Oue Maclaren was $135. and sounds a lot like the one sharkd mentioned. But we can dice carrots with ours! Definately worth the extra fifteen bucks.

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pecan 3.14159265

@Taelech: When your kid gets to the age in which he or she can eat solids, just teach your child to position his or her mouth near the hinge and then you can dice carrots right in!

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Taelech

@halcyondays: Our MacLaren stroller is an umbrella stroller, just a nice one. It stores an ample bunch of stuff and is pretty darned lightweight. I can't speak for the doubles, though, since we don't have another kid.

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Colonel Jack O'Neill

Just don't open or close it when the kids are playing with it, and don't let kids play with it to begin with, put it where they can't get to it.

Parents should take responsibility for they own kids when something happens, instead of trying to blame someone else.

1 replies

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Taelech

@Colonel Jack O'Neill: I agree, maybe a parent recall is in order since quite a few seem to be defective. The world is and cannot be made safe for a child, that's why we parents exist - to serve and protect.

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B

Twelve finger amputations? I assume Neigo Montoya is going to be after the victim of this accident.

3 replies

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BeyondtheTech

@B: Maclaren knew something was amiss when they heard that all the accidental amputations came from the same person.

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pecan 3.14159265

@B: Inigo Montoya was looking for the six-fingered man, not a man who was missing fingers.

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B

@pecan 3.14159265: ... A man who was missing 12 fingers, thus he used to be the six fingered man.

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pecan 3.14159265

@B: But a normal person has 10 fingers. The six-fingered man had an extra finger only on one hand. So he had 11 fingers total.

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Taelech

@pecan 3.14159265: Sure 11 fingers after his first use of the Maclaren Volo stroller!

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katstermonster

@pecan 3.14159265: Thank you. Clearly some people don't know their Princess Bride....

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Con Seannery

@katstermonster: What a shame. That's one of the best stories of all time.

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@B: stop saying that!

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Liam Kinkaid

@B: So now he has -6 fingers?

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WatchOutNow

This would be a great stroller for mobsters who are heavy into extortion and loan sharking.

Just another reason, why I'm near 30 and am in no rush to have kids. I need all my digits!

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neega

I've owned two so far. Love them. But now Maclaren's site is down.

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CrazyTrain

Just send some twist ties out to the customers. Worked for Toyota.

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bigsam27

mashup: the Slap-Chop stroller!

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nnj

Unbelieveable that there were 12 amputations! I do see a lot of these around. Considering the prices of these strollers and this is what the consumer gets. Never had any interest in owning a Maclaren mostly because of the price. The umbrella stroller I have was $39 on Amazon.

1 replies

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Buffet

You see lots of amputations???

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gStein_*|bringing starpipe back|*

if you have 12 fingers, a few amputations would be acceptable. but no more than 2.

1 replies

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H3ion

@gStein_has joined the star bandwagon: This had to have happened in West Virginia. In every other part of the country people only have ten fingers.

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lehrdude

IlostmythumbsinastrolleraccidentsonowIcan'tusethespacebar.

2 replies

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lehrdude

@lehrdude:
I guess it's only funny if I don't get cut off...

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katstermonster

@lehrdude: Hahaha I still laughed.

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Quake 'n' Shake

I've got an infant son, but I was unfamiliar with Maclaren. Then I read the article and stumbled upon this blurb:
Maclaren - maker of the pricey British strollers ubiquitous at playgrounds and on sidewalks across the city...

Silly me. I just go with Consumer Reports. Oh, whaddaya know? 5 strollers are rated and higher and are significantly cheaper than a Maclaren model.

2 replies

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Skipweasel

@Quake 'n' Shake: As a rule of thumb (or whatever you happen to have left) any high-price product will have a competitor which does the job adequately for considerably less money.

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mariospants

@Skipweasel: I need to get me a Consumer Reports subscription because I don't believe that there are 5 cheaper strollers rated higher than a MacLaren (and we'd better be talking a minimum of $50 cheaper).

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Taelech

@mariospants: Dont subscribe to CR, I'm sure there is a publication out there which does the job adequately for considerably less money. :)

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mariospants

@Taelech: +5 humor award

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Skipweasel

@mariospants: I didn't say rated higher - I said adequate.

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mariospants

@Skipweasel: I meant to reply to Quake 'n' Shake, your point is valid.

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BeyondtheTech

I heard they were going to sell off that line of strollers to The Martha Stewart Collection. Supposedly goes well with their lawnchairs that do the same thing for adults, too.

1 replies

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floraposte

@BeyondtheTech: \"Like father, like son? Think about it, won't you?\"

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dancemonkey

Maclaren's site is down, way down, not just the recall page. Oops. I'll have the little guy wear a mesh cutting glove in the meantime.

I love how this has also turned into a fine opportunity for people to bash the stroller itself, like people who pay a \"high price\" for a stroller deserve their child losing a finger? Bizarre...

1 replies

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mariospants

@dancemonkey: Idiots. I've owned both cheap and expensive strollers galore and in this industry, you definitely get what you pay for.

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iron_chef

as Alton Brown would like to say...
\"it's a multi-tasker\"

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DangerMouth

We need a word for a recall that doesn't actually recall anything. (everyhting I can think of sounds way to cynical)

We used to have an industrial guillotine-style paper cutter with a massive blade. My fingers and toes would curl in fear just walking by that thing. I think my partner finally got rid of it, or else it's lurking in a closet with the rest of my childhood fears.

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DangerMouth

way \"too\"

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Freedomforall

How does one go about explaining a missing digit to a toddler? And why is the chance of such an injury not the first thing designers are instructed to avoid? I bet designers of glass bottles are alert to making sure no mouth cutting edges are left in the molding process, lighters should not be explosive, no ground glass in any of the baby food,...that kind of thing. This is like a bad Dan Akroyd children's costume skit from the 70's. \"Saves on expensive 10 fingered gloves\"

1 replies

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@Freedomforall: little jonny can only count to 9 now.

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DrMorison

See?! Now I am glad that my wife insisted on the Bugaboo. Yah, it may have have been nine-hundred bucks, but at least the baby has all his fingers!
(when I told my dad how much the bugaboo cost, I expected him to tell me that I was nuts, instead he deadpanned \"does that come with a DVD player?\").

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foodfeed

the best finger amputation story i've heard involved a pinky ring and a flight of stairs. makes me think you can pull this off with just about anything.

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mariospants

\"Want a stroller that's cheaper and higher rated than a Maclaren, and hasn't been recalled for finger amputation?\" I'd be seriously surprised if such a thing existed: we've been through umpteen strollers and the only brands we trust now are MacLaren and Chariot. The rest either aren't built as well are safety-conscious (ironically) or don't have decent warranties. We live where cheaper strollers will rust easily, btw.

2 replies

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@mariospants: are you a sea monkey? There has to be a cheaper one that doesn't rust too easily.

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mariospants

@The Porkchop Express: Find me one. There ain't no such thing. Even the vaunted Simos (we've owned two, still have one) rust.

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@mariospants: Egads man or woman!! I don't know what to tell you then.

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IfThenElvis

A collapsible stroller that has no pinch points. Is that possible? And why are parents collapsing their strollers with their kids inside?

3 replies

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mariospants

@IfThenElvis: I think what's happening is that the kids are sticking their fingers in the mechanism as the parent is closing the stroller. You know how kids are.

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mariospants

@mariospants: whups, the report says it's when they open the stroller: a valid concern because the child is likely being kept right next to the parent at this point.

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travel_nut

@IfThenElvis:

It's a new parental discipline tactic.

\"SHUT UP JOHNNY or Mommy's going to fold you in the stroller again!\"

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IfThenElvis

\"When parents unfold the strollers, children have been reported putting their fingers in a side hinge, causing 12 fingertip amputations, according to the CPSC.\"

Maybe they need a yellow safety sticker like the one's on car visors.

1) Remove your child.
2) Collapse stroller.

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H3ion

Maclaren is offering some kind of hinge cover which the consumer has to install. This is supposed to protect small fingers but I don't know how easy the cover is to install and how well it will stay on. That said, my grandchildren have a Maclaren and I'll be checking out the hinges this week.

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JediJohn82

I am amazed at the number of recalls these days due to stupid consumer usage...what happened to the days of using common sense? I have a couple of strollers, including a Maclaren and I wouldn't be folding it with my child touching it or with my fingers in any of the \"pinch points\".

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TuxRug

TWELVE finger amputations? But that would leave me with (-2) fingers!

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Buffet

It doesn't say whose fingers were amputated, the mom's or the brat's?

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radiochief

People are joking about this, because the people who buy Maclarens think they are paying a premium for a safer stroller.

Whereas, a lot of people buy them because they are the ones to have. You can be in your nice suburbs paddling your precious snowflake around in a Graco, Safety 1st or a Chicco, now can you?

So, yes, people may enjoy the schaudenfraud of all those people paying extra for an (ultimately) unsafer stroller.

My 2 precious snowflakes in my suburb have done just fine with their Graco, thank you very much.

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radiochief

Although, I will say it is very troubling that it took 12 'accidents' for them to recall... I guess 12 must have been that magic number (a la Fight Club).

Too bad, it's pretty horrifying that a majority of a score of families had to go through that trauma.