Bumbo Baby Seats Recalled for New Labels
Thursday October 25, 2007
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced a recall of the popular Bumbo Baby Sitter foam seats because children can arch their backs and possibly fall out of the seat, which poses a risk of serious injury if the seat is being used on a high surface, such as a table or counter, and the baby falls all the way to the floor. Bumbo Seats already have a warning on the back of the seat instructing parents not to use the seats on elevated surfaces. For information on how to receive additional warning labels and instructions for the back of your Bumbo Seat, visit the CPSC's page on the Bumbo Seat Recall. Further details on this and other baby products recalls can be found on the Current Baby Products Recalls pages.
After one of the first reports of a baby falling from a counter and being injured, I created a poll and invited comments on whether or not parents should use the seat on an elevated surface, and whether the blame for falls really lies with a seat that already contains a warning on the back about not using the seat on high surfaces. The poll results show that most parents do not use the Bumbo Seat on a table or counter. Your comments also leaned heavily towards parental, not product, responsibility for the falls.
Photo courtesy of CPSC.gov.
Comments
This is so obviously user error. One would never sit one’s child up on a counter or table by himself, why would you do so in a bumbo?
We have a bumbo and we loved it, at least until 7 1/2 months or so, when my child outgrew it. Parents need to use their brains when using any product designed for their child. Where is personal responsibility?
I wouldn’t put a baby in a Bumbo (or carseat, bouncy seat or anything else…) anywhere I couldn’t put a baby without a Bumbo (carseat, bouncy seat or anything else…). That means no counters, no bed, no sofa, no table, no hood of car, no picnic bench, no chairs, no buffet, no armoire, no sinks. Simply put, that thing stays on the ground. My mom told me when I had my first baby that the safest place for a young baby that when you are not holding them is the floor. By golly, mom was right!
Parents who use baby products while completely disregarding the safety instructions need to be recalled. Bumbo seats may be fairly new on the scene, but people have been hearing for years not to put babies in walkers, bouncer seats, infant seats, or anything else up on a raised surface.
Does the additional warning label come stapled to the parents’ heads? I’m not seeing any other way parents could be more warned about this. Really, now.
Perhaps they should make everyone call the company so the label can be read to them. I’m glad that the makers of Bumbo are trying to be responsible, but if people are going to disregard instructions, there isn’t much they can do.
I like to put my child in the Bumbo (on the floor, of course) surrounded by shards of glass. If my baby falls out and is cut, I’ll just sue the company because their product poses a laceration hazard. The product doesn’t warn you about not putting the chair near shards of glass!
I know a lot of parents who use Bumbos and love them. They are not idiots and don’t leave their children (in Bumbos or not)on elevated surfaces, so none of them have had any problems with this product at all. Even if it did cross someone’s mind to do this, you’d think the giant warning label might make them think twice about it. I don’t know what else Bumbo can do; I don’t think they should be held responsible for the fact that there are some complete morons out there who can’t read a warning label.
I use the BebePOD chair. I think it might be a little more durable material and the back a little higher. I guess that’s good, but I still can’t understand why anyone would put that – a Bumbo, a car seat, or whatever, on an elevated surface with a baby in it. I hope any babies that have been hurt by this are ok, but if they end up with their parents’ intelligence and judgement, they are probably doomed anyway.
I am a representative of the manufacturer and just want to encourage anyone interested in learning more about the SAFE use of the Bumbo Baby Seat to visit http://www.bumbosafety.com. Our online survey has found that 12 percent of parents did not realize a baby can get out of a Bumbo. They can. And they can get injured unless a parent or guardian is right there. A Bumbo is not a restraint and parents need to take the necessary precautions. We are working to educate users to prevent future injuries. Thanks!
I dont really undersand why anyone would put the Bumbo seat on a high surface – way too silly.
I bougt a Cushi Tush instead for my daughter who is 5 months old which she loves, and im not concerned about her falling out because the tray it come with holds her in.