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Practical Parenting | Parenting in the 90s | News & Alerts
Pediatrics | Family Matters | Mothering

News and Alerts

Clinton Proposes Expanded Leave Options for New Parents

Parents may soon be able to receive state subsidies while taking time away from work to care for a new baby.

U.S. President Bill CIinton recently unveiled a proposal allowing unemployment funds to be used to provide partial wage replacement to mothers and fathers on leave following the birth or adoption of a child. The proposal would allow states to experiment with their differing unemployment insurance systems under a voluntary pilot program.

At least four states — Massachusetts, Vermont, Maryland and Washington — already are considering extending unemployment benefits to new parents.

Parents are already entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave with the guarantee of job protection. Since the Family and Medical Leave Act was passed in 1993, some 24 million people have used some or all of their entitled 12 weeks to care for a new baby or other family member.

Although the proposed new rule, which would take effect early next year, does not require congressional action, the U.S. Department of Labor has invited public comments on the proposal.

Submit written comments to Grace A. Kilbane, Director, Unemployment Insurance Service, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room S-4231, Washington, DC 20210.

For more on the proposal, contact Gerard Hildebrand, Unemployment Insurance Service, ETA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room S-4231, Washington, DC 20210 or call (202) 219-5200 ext. 391 or visit the DOL Web site.

Consumer Alerts

Franklin Sports, Huffy Sports and Lifetime Products are announcing a voluntary recall to replace the nets on 900,000 toy and youth basketball sets. Children could strangle on loops or openings in nets that come unhooked from the rim or have knots that slide. If children put their heads into these openings, the net can get tangled around their necks.

Franklin Sports has received one report of a 3-year-old boy getting his head and neck caught in a basketball net. Huffy Sports and Lifetime Products have received no incident reports. No injuries have been reported.

Consumers should remove and throw away nets that can unhook or have knots that slide. Manufacturers will send consumers new nets that securely attach to the rim and do not have sliding knots. Franklin Sports: (877) 730-1962; Huffy Sports: (800) 558-5234; and Lifetime Products: (800) 242-3865.

J.C. Penney Co. is recalling about 20,000 USA Olympic brand boys jackets. There are 7-inch drawstrings at the bottom of the jackets. Children could be dragged if the drawstrings catch in a vehicle's door, and suffer injury or death.

J.C. Penney is not aware of any injuries or incidents involving these jackets.

Consumers should stop using the jackets immediately. Either remove the drawstrings or return the jacket to the nearest J.C. Penney store for a full refund. For more information, contact J.C. Penney anytime toll-free at (888) 333-6063.

Century Products Co. is offering a $30 cash reward for the repair of each Lil' Napper infant swing.

The swings, which were manufactured by Century from 1991 through 1997, have shoulder harness straps that are placed over each shoulder and buckled between the infant's legs. If the straps on these swings loosen or are unbuckled, an infant can become tangled in the straps and strangle.

Despite a nationwide effort over the past 2 years to alert the public about this recall, Century believes that many of the 125,000 swings originally sold could still be in use. The recalled Lil' Napper infant swings can be identified by the following model numbers, located on the bottom of the swing's seat: 12-344, 12-345, 12-347, 12-475 or 12-476.

Parents and caregivers should immediately stop using these infant swings. To receive the repair kit and the $30 reward, call Century at (800) 231-1448 anytime or visit the company's Web site.

For more information about recalls, visit CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.