Bumbo baby seats recalled again over risk of falling, skull fractures

Bumbo seat with restraint belt repair (side view and top view)

/ CPSC

(CBS News) Bumbo International Trust is recalling four million of its popular baby seats after at least 50 reports of infants falling from seats placed on elevated surfaces, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced Wednesday. Nineteen of the reports included skull fractures suffered by infants, prompting the company and government agency to urge parents to stop using the product until they obtain a repair kit.  

The products are sold in the U.S. at Sears, Target, Toys R Us (including Babies R Us), USA Babies, Walmart, and various other online sellers and toy and children's stores nationwide. Recalled products were sold between August 2003 through August 2012 for between $30 and $50.

The consumer safety agency said the injuries occurred when babies fell from a Bumbo seat while it was placed on an elevated surface, which the seats labels had warned against. Falling risk first lead to a voluntary recall of one million of the seats in October 2007 to provide additional warnings about falling risk.

According to a CPSC blog, infants can escape the Bumbo seat by arching their backs, rocking, or leaning forward or sideways. Infants between 3 and 10 months old have suffered serious head injuries like concussions or skull fractures when this happens, according to the blog.

CPSC and Bumbo are also aware of an additional 34 post-recall reports of infants who fell out or maneuvered out of a Bumbo seat used on the floor or at an unknown elevation, resulting in injury. Two of these reported cases included skull fractures, while others included bumps, bruises and other minor injuries.

People who own a Bumbo seat should stop using it immediately until they order a free repair kit that contains a restraint belt that should always be used when a child is in the seat. The kit also contains new warning labels that should be placed on the product.

"Even with the belt, the seat should never be used on any raised surface," the CPSC urged consumers.

Consumers should not attempt to take the products back to retailers since they can't provide the repair kit. They can order the free kit from Bumbo's website or can call the company at 866-898-4999 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Thursday and between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. CT on Friday.

Here's more from Bumbo USA:

[ali1619]

So I have a bumbo seat, use it with my daughter all the time, I have the belt, but with or without the belt, her legs are so fat she gets stuck in it. Regardless, she can still tip it backwards, so what is the belt for?? Point being, it is the parents responsibility yo attend their child. I would never leave her unattended in it, little own unattended on an elevated place. Hello people!! Watch your children!!

[Lil_m1223]

Seriously? What is next? Recall on all couches and coffee tables cause their children bumped their heads? Who leaves their child un-attended anyways??

[jlmahoney]

I do agree that the parents are at fault, this isn't a baby sitter. However, as a concerned parent I want my harness, I went to the site and guess what when you go to order it the page isn't working!

[Jenn0912]

Seriously???? Aren't recalls for defective equipment? It's the parent that's defective, not the product. Even if you don't have enough common sense to keep them off elevated surfaces, the warning label WARNS you against it!! And what is the restraining belt going to do anywya? If the Bumbo tips over, the infant is going to go with it and STILL get hurt. All I can say is, WOW.........