Graco and Simplicity cribs recalled

The Ashleigh Drop Side crib is one of the recalled models.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with LaJobi Inc., of Cranbury, N.J. announced the recall of over 200,ooo Graco®-branded drop side cribs made by LaJobi. The drop side hardware can break or fail, allowing the drop side to detach from the crib. When the drop side detaches, a hazardous gap is created between the drop side and the crib mattress in which infants and toddlers can become wedged or entrapped, posing a risk of suffocation and strangulation. In addition, children can fall from the cribs when the drop side detaches or fails to lock. This recall involves LaJobi-manufactured Graco® wood cribs. The full size cribs were sold in cherry, espresso, natural and white finishes. See more specific product information here. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and contact LaJobi to receive a free hardware retrofit kit that will immobilize the drop side. CPSC urges parents and caregivers to find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby.

The CPSC also announced Thursday  the recall of all Simplicity full-size cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames. This recall includes fixed-side and drop-side cribs. These cribs pose a risk of serious injury or death due to entrapment, strangulation, suffocation and fall hazards to infants and toddlers.

The crib’s tubular metal mattress-support frame can bend or detach and cause part of the mattress to collapse, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged, entrapped or fall out of the crib.

CPSC has received a report of a one-year-old child from North Attleboro, Mass. who suffocated when he became entrapped between the crib mattress and the crib frame in April 2008. CPSC is aware of 13 additional incidents involving the recalled cribs collapsing due to the metal mattress- support frame bending or detaching, including one child entrapment that did not result in injury, and one child who suffered minor cuts to his head when his mattress collapsed and he fell out of the crib.

CPSC staff urges parents and caregivers to stop using these cribs immediately and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Do not attempt to fix these cribs.  Click here for additional information about which Simplicity models are affected.

For more information on Crib Safety, visit CPSC’s Crib Information Center.

Bent tubular support frame

Your online shopping could benefit Day Nursery

We have something new and exciting we’d like to share with you! It’s the new Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis toolbar – once added to Internet Explorer or Firefox, each time you shop at more than 1,300 stores (from Amazon to Zazzle!) a percentage of your purchase will automatically be donated to Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis – at no cost to you (and you may even save money as the toolbar provides coupons and deals as well!). The toolbar also has a search box and each time you search the Internet, about a penny is donated to Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis. Check it out here.

Wordless Wednesday: Day Nursery Ruth A. Lilly Center

Day Nursery State Government Center students clean up their neighborhood

The Earth Day pictures are still rolling in from the centers.  Special thanks today to Day Nursery Indiana State Government Center teacher Toni Hayward for going the extra mile to share these pictures with us when the PreK class, accompanied by lead teacher Tim Tegarden and Day Nursery Director of Center Administration Patty Fisher, walked over to Military Park to pick up trash.  We are happy to report that they didn’t find much trash to pick up, but they did have a lot of fun running around the park!

Sorting activity reinforces importance of recycling

Last week the children and parents of the Preschool 1 classroom at the Day Nursery Hendricks County Early Care and Education Center in Avon collected and brought in items that could be recycled. The teachers and children discussed how using recycled materials help our earth. They sorted the materials and made a poster to illustrate items that could be recycled.  Thanks to Center Director Joy McCall for sharing their pictures with us.

Day Nursery preschoolers embrace Earth Week activities

This is the recycling center created by the three year olds.

The sensory table was turned into a flower garden.

Planting a community garden on the playground

Decorating bags to take to the store to reuse

Measuring the ingredients for the pudding

Adding “dirt” to the pudding

Sampling the “dirt” pudding was the best part!

The three year olds covered a balloon with paper mache

Working together to make a model of Earth

The earth has lots of oceans to paint blue.

The “earth” is dry so now it is time to paint it.

Day Nursery students spent last week focusing on our earth and how to care for it. They planted gardens, picked up trash, sorted items for recycling and made a model of the Earth. Here’s a sampling of the Day Nursery Earth Week activities at our Day Nursery Ruth A. Lilly Center. Thanks to teachers Miss Sarah and Miss Caroline for sharing pictures of their three-year-olds in action.

Join Team Day Nursery at Walking for Dreams

Join Us Downtown on the Canal on Sunday, May 23 to Raise Money for Arts Education Programs for the Children of Day Nursery Indianapolis

Families, staff and friends of Day Nursery are invited to participate in the Walking for Dreams Charity Walk. Developed by the Sycamore Foundation, this (approximately) 5K family and pet walk began in 2004 to help local Indianapolis non-profit organizations raise money to serve the children and families in our community. Day Nursery understands the importance of providing an enriching experience to all the children in our centers and is reaching out to our parents and the community to help fund arts education programs for our children. By registering and collecting pledges for this walk, you will directly impact the lives of the children we serve. Plus, you’ll have a great time walking with your family and friends (including the furry ones) along the Canal on a beautiful day.  Thanks to our partners at AGIS, every registration comes with one complimentary t-shirt.

Please pick up a registration form at any Day Nursery center or visit www.walkingfordreams.org and register to walk for Team Day Nursery plus make an additional donation to support arts education for the children.

What: Walking for Dreams with Team Day Nursery

When: Sunday, May 23, 2010. Check in begins at 1 pm. Walk begins at 2 pm.

Where: Downtown on the Canal at Buggs Temple, 337 W. 11th Street, Indianapolis.

Cost: $20 registration fee, includes one complimentary t-shirt.  Walkers are encouraged to solicit for pledges.

For more information, please call or Email Beth in the Day Nursery Development Office at (317) 636-9197, ext. 240.

Day Nursery Auxiliary members tour Northwest Center

Friday morning I visited the Day Nursery Northwest Center to attend a meeting held by the Day Nursery Auxiliary.  The Auxiliary is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to assist the Day Nursery Association by raising funds and promoting volunteer services for the Day Nursery Association. The Auxiliary was founded in 1938 and currently has 225 members. Each year, the organization’s main fundraiser is a luncheon and fashion show.  This year’s event “Leading the Way-In Style” is scheduled for October 1, 2010 at Oak Hill Mansion in Carmel.  As the members arrived for their mid-morning meeting, they were greeted by  2 ½ year old students who were painting on an easel built into their playground.  They seemed to really be enjoying some special foamy paint. Mrs. Renee Dixon and Mrs. Eva Johnson are the teachers in that classroom.  The volunteers toured the center and enjoyed interacting with the children.  You can learn more about the Auxiliary as well as see more pictures from their visit to the Northwest Center by visiting the Day Nursery Auxiliary blog.

Celebrating The Week of the Young Child at Day Nursery Clarian Center

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Day Nursery receives CHAMPS grant for summer program

Day Nursery Association is one of fifteen youth-serving organizations throughout Indiana to have been selected as a CHAMPS (Champions in Life) Grant recipient, which is awarded annually by Indiana Sports Corporation. 

CHAMPS Grants support organizations that provide underserved youth with the opportunity to participate in sports and fitness activities and teach life skills. The CHAMPS Grants are funded by net proceeds of the annual Youthlinks Indiana Charity Golf Tournament as well as direct contributions from many generous organizations like Community Health Network Foundation, Conseco and Samerian Foundation. 

Day Nursery’s Summer Health and Water Safety Program will benefit from the Samerian Foundation CHAMPS Grant. This program promotes healthy physical activities and nutrition combined with self empowerment for the children enrolled at Day Nursery’s seven centers and includes swimming lessons.  All participants will be exposed to healthy eating choices with fresh produce providing long term influence on the children.  Swim lessons will be held at the IUPUI Natatorium and begin the week of May 17.

“It is truly an honor for Indiana Sports Corporation to again present CHAMPS Grants to deserving organizations who provide such wonderful programming for youth,” Indiana Sports Corp President Susan Williams said. “Each of these groups is investing in the future health and success of young people throughout Indiana. The youth participating with these 15 organizations are receiving this extra financial boost as a result of the generosity of the companies who participated in Youthlinks in 2009. We congratulate each of these amazing organizations for their service to youth.”