Graco recalls 305,000 car seats because of choking hazard

Graco has recalled almost 305,000 of its SnugRide car restraints because the seat's fiber fill can become loose and pose a choking hazard to children, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced.

In the recall notice, Graco said it has determined that the backing of the seat pad on certain stand-alone SnugRide infant car seats may be prone to deterioration or tearing, especially after washing. If this occurs, children occupying the car seat may be able to remove the padding material from the back of the seat pad and place it in their mouths, posing a potential choking hazard.

The car seats were made from August 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007 and sold for $69 to $89. You can find a full list of the models affected on Graco's web site. The recall does not include SnugRide car seats sold with a stroller as part of a travel system.

Graco is in the process of notifying registered owners of the car seat to tell  them how to get a replacement kit. Owners of the seat who have not registered the purchase can do so on Graco's Web site.  Graco cautions that parents can continue to use the car seat if they monitor the seat pad on a periodic basis to ensure the integrity of the pad and asks them to avoid unnecessarily washing the pad before getting the replacement kit. The company stresses that the issue does not affect the ability of the child restraint system to protect the occupant in the event of a motor vehicle accident. More information can be obtained by calling Graco at 866-414-6592. (Please have your model number and date of manufacture handy.)

The Graco SnugRide was included as a Best Buy in our car seat Ratings (for subscribers).