<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK>        0001042422
<NAME>       HEDSTROM HOLDINGS INC
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   5-MOS                   YEAR                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             JUL-31-1996             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-01-1996             AUG-01-1995             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             JUL-31-1996             JUN-30-1997
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