I feel compelled to share the following recall with you Workerettes, but I also have to make a statement about it as a parent. While I'm upset for the babies who were injured in falls, causing this recall, I'm more than slightly shocked by, and worried about, their parents. Where were they when their babies fell? WHY were these babies up on elevated surfaces where the danger of falling - and injuries from a possible fall - are greater? Why were the warnings already on the back not enough? Were they too wordy? Did parents just ignore them? Did they just assume "my baby won't do that"?
We may never know. The media and the CPSC focus on the product manufacturers, not the folks using them, possibly improperly.
Time and again I read in parenting books and was told by my doctor and my daughter's pediatrician not to place a baby in a carrier, bouncy seat, or any other sort of device up on an elevated surface. Mind you, I'm the first to admit I'm not a perfect parent, and frankly it's been known to happen. However, the fact that children old enough to sit up in a little seat like the Bumbo are also old enough to arch backward, roll over, and do any number of other things that would flip them over seems to me obvious enough that a parent with common sense would analyze where their child could safely sit in the product. As it is I'd recently considered purchasing a seat like this for my son, but with hardwood floors I would hesitate to use it, even on the floor, in case he flipped it over and cracked his noggin. Without the padding of carpet, that could be pretty painful - let alone a fall from table height.
*sigh* I can't decide if I feel worse for the babies themselves or for the parents who have to think about the safety precaution that apparently didn't "click" when they used the product - I can't help but assume that if a fall occured from somewhere other than floor level, as expressly described as the only designed place for use, that it's the parent's fault or negligence their own child was harmed. Rather reminds me of parents who don't buckle up their kids and let them bounce around while they drive - I've literally seen kids STANDING in the back of vehicles and climbing into rear windows and I can't fathom it.
As for me and my own imperfect parenting - my husband and I decided that a high chair with a wide base, adjustable seat back, and the ability to lower and raise the seat was best for us and safest for our son. As he gets older, we can lower the seat to create a lower, more stable device and hopefully prevent any spills.
Read on for the product recall itself - and remember, never place your baby up on a table, the washing machine, a counter top, or similar spot in a bouncy chair, carrier, or Bumbo-style seat.
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 25, 2007 Release #08-046 | Firm’s Recall Hotline: (877) 932-8626 |
Serious Head Injuries Prompt Recall of Bumbo Baby Sitter Seats - New Warnings and Instructions to Be Provided To Consumers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.Name of Product: Bumbo “Baby Sitter” Seats
Units: About 1 million
Manufacturer: Bumbo International, of South Africa
Hazard: If the seat is placed on a table, countertop, chair, or other elevated surface, young children can arch their backs, flip out of the Bumbo seat, and fall onto the floor, posing a risk of serious head injuries.
Incidents/Injuries: CPSC has received 28 reports of young children falling out of the Bumbo Baby Sitter seat, including three skull fractures, which occurred when children fell out of chairs that had been placed on tables.
Description: The bottom of the children’s seat is round and flat with a diameter of about 15 inches. It is constructed of a single piece of molded foam and comes in yellow, blue, purple, pink, aqua, and lime green. The seat has leg holes and seat back that wraps completely around the child. On the front of the seat in raised lettering is the word “Bumbo” with the image of an elephant on top. The bottom of the seat has the following words: “Manufactured by Bumbo South Africa Material: Polyurethane World Patent No. PCT: ZA/1999/00030.” The back of the seat contains the following “WARNING” – “Never use on a raised surface. Never use as a car seat or bath seat. Designed for floor level use only. Never leave your baby unattended as the seat is not designed to be totally restrictive and may not prevent release of your baby in the event of vigorous movement.”
Sold by: Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, Toys R Us, Babies R Us, USA Babies and various other toy and children’s stores nationwide, and various online sellers, from August 2003 through October 2007 for about $40.
Manufactured in: South Africa
Remedy: Consumers should never use the infant seat on a table, countertop, chair, or other elevated surface. Consumers can contact Bumbo to obtain new warning label stickers and instructions, free of charge. The new warning label will state: “WARNING – Prevent Falls; Never use on any elevated surface.” Consumers should use the Bumbo seat at ground level, but should never leave a child unattended.
Consumer Contact: Contact Bumbo International at (877) 932-8626 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.bumbosafety.com
» Not In My Cart! from Workerette
Here at Workerette I've attempted to alert you to some of the many recalls issued over the past few months - and frankly, I've not even touched on half of them! I'm sure you, like me, are getting sick of... [Read More]
Tracked on: November 8, 2007 8:43 AM | Permalink to Trackback