Far too many products get into consumers’ homes that are later the subject of a recall by the manufacturer due to safety problems. In 2006, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled 471 products for safety problems--a 10-year high. Many of those products were intended for kids. There are no pre-market testing requirements in the U.S. for juvenile products to ensure that products are safe before they are sold. Instead, the burden is placed on consumers to be attentive to recall notices that affect the baby products they own. Recalls on juvenile products in particular have a very poor response rate from consumers, perhaps because parents and caregivers are not made aware of all recalls that could affect their baby’s safety.

Here are a few tips on what to do to make sure you are always in the know.

Fill out and mail product registration cards. These are required on child car seats, but optional on other juvenile products. You don’t need to supply any personal information other than your address so the manufacturer can contact you.

Sign up for e-mail alerts for recalls. Go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx and sign up for regular e-mail notices when recalls are announced.

Watch and read news reports. Some news organizations, including Consumer Reports, publicize the most serious product recalls. Read these notices regularly to make sure the products you own are not involved.

Check your current products. Many consumers, day-care centers, and secondhand stores may possess recalled products without knowing it. Products sold on auction Web sites such as eBay may never have been used but could still be the subject of a recall. You can check for recalls by going to www.recalls.gov and searching for your product by type, manufacturer, or description.

Report unsafe products. If you uncover a safety problem with a product you own, help protect other consumers by reporting the problem to the government, the manufacturer, and Consumer Reports.