An Angelcare baby monitor is shown in a Health Canada handout photo.The Canadian Press
A line of baby monitors is being recalled in Canada and the United States because the items pose a strangulation risk for infants.
The devices are Angelcare movement and sound baby monitors, made by Angelcare Monitors Inc.
Health Canada says that in the U.S. there have been reports of two deaths and two other incidents where babies became entangled in the monitors' cords.
The department says to date there have been no reports of deaths involving the monitors in Canada.
The monitors have a sensor pad that is placed in the crib, under the mattress; it is connected to the baby monitor unit by a 3.4-metre electrical cord.
Health Canada says in the cases of the baby deaths, the infants had pulled the cords into their cribs.
The deaths occurred in 2004 and 2011.
About 182,000 of the recalled products have been sold in Canada since 2003. In the United States, where the products have been sold since 1999, it is estimated nearly 600,000 of the units were sold.
Monitors affected by the recall are: Angelcare movement monitor model 300; Angelcare movement and sound monitors models AC 201, AC 301, AC 401 and AC 601; and Angelcare video, movement and sound monitor model AC 1100.
The model numbers are printed on the baby monitor unit.
The company is offering a free kit to render the monitors safe. It includes a rigid protective cord cover through which the sensor pad cords should be threaded, a warning label and revised instructions.
Consumers can obtain the kits by contacting Angelcare at 1-855-355-2643 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, e-mailing consumers@angelcare.ca or through the company's website.