Hearth Record

Houdini Portable Playyards Hazard

Kids’ product recall 97-047. Announced by CPSC on Dec 17, 1996.

CPSC’s own notice, on cpsc.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own notice is on cpsc.gov.

The short answer

Announced by CPSC on Dec 17, 1996. Copied from CPSC on Oct 19, 2026.

Every line below is in CPSC’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

The notice gives no hazard in a field of its own.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What should you do?

The notice gives no remedy in a field of its own.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Which ones are recalled?

Houdini Portable Playyards Hazard NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Nychelle White December 17, 1996 (301) 504-7063 Release # 97-047 CPSC and Evenflo Warn of Potential Choking Hazard on Houdini Portable Playyards WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Evenflo Company Inc. of Piqua, Ohio is warning consumers that some of its Houdini Portable Playyards may present a potential small parts choking hazard and a sharp edge hazard. Approximately 205,000 of these playyards were sold. Small plastic covers from “push caps” used to secure various parts of the playyards together may crack and separate. Evenflo and the CPSC are aware of a number of reports of the plastic caps separating. Although no injuries have been reported, this action is being taken to prevent young children from choking or cutting themselves. All Houdini model numbers beginning with 332 are involved in this warning. The model number is located on a tag attached to the bottom of the unit. The playyards sold nationwide for about $45 from 1994 through 1996. CPSC and Evenflo are advising all Houdini owners to inspect the pushcaps on their playyards. The push caps on Houdini Playyards are small metal washers covered by a plastic clip. In some cases, these plastic clips have cracked and separated from the metal washer. The plastic clip could then present a choking hazard, and the exposed metal washer may be sharp enough to cut a child. The exposed metal washer will continue to hold the playyard securely together. Each playyard contains 16 push caps with three located in each corner of the top rail, and one in the center of each top rail. Consumers should look for loose, cracked, or missing plastic covers. If any are found, consumers should call Evenflo at (800) 490-7549 immediately to obtain free replacement push caps and installation instructions. Even if no loose, cracked, or missing plastic covers are found, consumers should call for a free warning label.

Evenflo Houdini Portable Play yards.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Who made and sold it?

  • Made by Evenflo.
Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Was anyone hurt?

The notice doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • The notice lists no UPCs, so check the model, the description and the photos.
  • The notice lists no model numbers in a field of their own; its description may give them.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Recalls API.

    Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Source:

Recalls of kids’ and home products are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record. Copied on Oct 19, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

Sign in

A free account keeps your watch list, shortlists, comparisons and saved searches on every device, and can email you when something you watch changes. Browsing never needs one.