After miscarrying at 24 weeks, Jessica Huchko went to Babies “R” Us to do something she dreaded: return her unused babies items. Huchko and her husband had bought a double stroller and carseat from the store about a month earlier in anticipation of their newest addition. “Unfortunately we learned that my son had passed away,” Huchko wrote in a post on Facebook. “I had to make the dreaded trip to your store soon after my loss to return my purchases. I never expected that my son would not survive so I did not save the receipt.” When Huchko got to the store, a sales associate asked if her if there was anything wrong with the items she was returning. Huchko replied that there wasn’t, but the woman at the register pressed on. Huchko then explained that her son had passed away a few weeks earlier, and she couldn’t keep the items. By this point, Huchko was in tears. “I was so emotional I could not stop crying,” Huchko wrote. “I became nervous now that so many people were watching me cry while she was looking up the product.
She must have scanned the items over 20 times and could not find them in the system anywhere.” Unable to find Huchko’s products in the Babies “R” Us system, the sales associate called over a manager. Again, Huchko was made to explain why she was returning her items. As the manager searched for the items in the system, Huchko and her 1-year-old daughter stood in line waiting for over half an hour. After finding the products, the manager was only able to offer Huchko half price for the $80 carseat and two cents for the $179 double stroller, which had since been discontinued. “I was so upset and frustrated with this place I started hysterically crying while everyone was watching me,” Huchko wrote. “I have never been more embarrassed in my life. I was still in complete mourning of losing my son and now this? I grabbed my store credit and ran out of the store.” According to WFSB, Babies “R” Us has since reached out to Huchko to issue a refund. “We are deeply sorry for her experience in our store, and more importantly for her loss,” Babies “R” Us told WFSB.
“The store leadership has provided coaching to the team members to help ensure similar situations are handled with more care in the future.” You can read Huchko’s full Facebook post below. While there is no simple guide or universal set of instructions for what to do after a miscarriage or stillbirth, resources exist to help grieving parents. Here are just a few: What Should I Do With My Nursery After a Miscarriage? Early Miscarriage: What to Do and How to Cope FAQs about pregnancy loss from the Miscarriage Association A Woman Loses More Than the Baby After a MiscarriageNeed to upgrade from a crib to a toddler bed? Or maybe the stroller you inherited from your sister was made under a different set of safety standards than we've got today. You can trade it in at Toys R Us in exchange for a 25% discount on select new baby gear. Toys R Us will host its 10th "Great Trade-In" event from Friday 1/23 through Saturday 2/21 at Toys R Us and Babies R Us locations nationwide. The event is meant to help parents and caregivers replace aging and potentially dangerous baby equipment (and get it out of circulation), though parents merely seeking an upgrade from what they have are also welcome.
The age and condition of the item does not matter. Toys R Us noted that they've taken items that are decades old, missing parts, or that are otherwise defective - and getting this old, worn and broken gear out of circulation is exactly the reason why they host this event in the first place. "The Great Trade-In was conceived to bring attention to the dangers associated with potentially unsafe used items in circulation, and we’re proud this program has to-date helped remove more than 1 million items from the marketplace," said Hank Mullany, President, Toys R Us, U.S. "One of our most important responsibilities as a company is to help parents keep kids safe, and we look forward to once again hosting this popular event in our stores to encourage families to turn in old products in exchange for new ones in-line with today’s safety standards."What to trade in: For every item traded in, participants will receive a coupon good for 25% off a new baby item from one of the same categories listed above.
/GreatTradeIn.Don't have anything to trade in? You can still grab coupons for 15% off baby gear or furniture here. The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of the best personal finance bloggers out there. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. To contact us about a blogger, click here. To add or view a comment on a guest blog, please go to the blogger's own site by clicking on the link in the blog description box above.Toys "R" Us Stores Offering Quiet Shopping Hours for Kids with Autism Toys "R" Us stores in the UK are offering a "quiet hour" for shoppers with autism this holiday, and we'd love if U.S. retailers did the same! Facebook Pinterest Twitter Google Plus Text EmailIs Baby Caché Brand available through outlets or online? Can we buy directly from Heritage Baby Products? Baby Caché Brand is available for purchase exclusively through Babies "R" Us stores.
For a store in your area, please feel free to use the Store Locator. What standards do Baby Caché cribs meet? All of Baby Caché cribs meet the CPSC (Consumer Products Safety Commission) standards and are JPMA Certified. How long is Heritage Baby Products warranty? We have a 1-year limited warranty (Manufacture Defects). We will replace any missing or broken part within that period for no charge. A copy of the receipt of purchase along with additional information is required. Please note certain exclusions do apply. for all such claims. How do I order replacement parts? Contact a Babies "R" Us store with your receipt number, production date, factory code, PO No. and the store will order it for you. What is the best way to clean my Heritage Baby Products? Can I order items in another finish? There are no other finishes other than what is specified on the website. Please contact your local Babies "R" Us store for a complete list of what they carry.
I can’t find my product, is it discontinued? What is a Lifetime Crib? A Lifetime crib is any Baby Caché crib that converts into a Toddler Bed, Day Bed and a full-size bed. A Toddler Rail and a conversion kit for a Full-Size Bed are available through special order at Babies "R" Us. What is a Toddler Rail and Conversion Kit? A toddler rail is the rail used to convert any Lifetime crib into a toddler bed. Complete instructions are included with each package. A Conversion Kit is an optional rail & slats system which can later convert the crib to a full size bed. Not only will it be fully functional when converted to a full size bed, but it will look beautiful in the room. We highly recommend use of Bunkie Board or Low Profile or Regular Box Spring under the mattress for the conversion kit. and if not it is available through special order at Babies "R" Us. *We advise that the toddler rail and conversion kit be purchased with the crib as availability varies*. What is a Special Order Item?