Bumbo Baby Seats Recalled

CPSC: Kids Could Fall Out, Suffer Serious Head Injuries If Seats Are Used On Elevated Surfaces

(CBS)  A popular baby seat is also potentially dangerous and being recalled.

The Early Show consumer correspondent Susan Koeppen reports the Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the voluntary recall of about a million Bumbo "Baby Sitter" Seats, made by Bumbo International of South Africa.

The CPSC says, "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."

The agency says it's had 28 reports of young children falling out of the seats, and sustaining injuries that included three skull fractures suffered when kids fell out of Bumbo seats that had been placed on tables.

The seats were sold by Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, Kmart, Toys R Us, Babies R Us, USA Babies, and various other toy and children's stores nationwide, as well as numerous online vendors, from August 2003 through October 2007, the CPSC says. They cost $40.

Consumers should never use the infant seat on a table, countertop, chair, or other elevated surface, the agency warns.

It adds that consumers can contact Bumbo to obtain 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 when the youngster is in the seat, the CPSC points out.

Consumers can contact Bumbo International at [phone] between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.bumbosafety.com.

For more on the recall, including complete details on the particular units involved, click here.

[emmitotter]

Is this serious? What happened to common sense! Why would any reasonable parent put a child in ANY baby seat and then put it on a high surface! Makes me wonder how anyone survived previoous generations! Whats next - strollers because some idiot didnt realize it would roll on an incline!!! Get a grip people

[jaimer6]

does any one know if this has happened with the bebe pod? my daughter has the bebe pod and she''s only recently bean able to get out of it & she''s 1. not that i would leave her on high surfaces, but I''m a single mom, & in the past i would put her in that on the bathroom floor while i showered or put her in it in arms reach on the counter in the kitchen while i cleaned. if she even looked like she was going to get out i was right there. i have also used it at restaurants on the booth table again right next to me. i have never had a problem, are people putting there kids on high surfaces and leaving the room? how is this happening? how are you not in an arms reach of your kids? i guess they should recall baby baths too, because if you leave the room your child could drown!

[minouz]

I understand that not all blame should be on parents BUT come one!
THIS is what''s wrong with the world....people sueing for EVERYTHING! People pointing fingers at companies, parents, and everyone else but themselves.

WHO cares if your kids don''t like the bumbo and try to get out? Then don''t use them! Use your judgement! One of my twins loved the seat but the other one didn''t so we stopped sitting the 2nd one in it, end of story. It''s not made for all and every baby. Deal with it!

Yes, they advertise about hands-free ect ect. But they also have clear warnings. It''s not like they lied!! It does work, just not for everyone.

Will this be another "walker" incident??? I hope not because that''s another one where a small percent of people overreacted and ruined it for everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!

[prytygrneyz]

ANYONE claiming to wish me luck need not waste their wishes. I need no "luck" when it comes to my daughter and perhaps if you read what I said, you would see that all on your own. I "quoted" the MAUNFACTURER''S WEBSITE in mentioning the "hands free" benefits" and the claim at "independence" while using this seat.

Not that I need to explain myself, but my daughter was never UNATTENDED while ON THE FLOOR in the Bumbo seat. I never said that I thought a recall was just - I simply stated that the advertising of the product is MISLEADING and it was a shame that the finger is always pointed at a parent. YES, parents are neglectful, and YES a watchful eye needs to be held over those not paying closer attention! I am not lacking common sense, just simply stating my opinion of advertisting tactics & the lack of interest in using the product again, as well as my disgust in anyone so quick to point the finger!

Please READ before you decide to bash, MrMom!

[mrmom3682]

to prytygrneyz who wrote
"I am apalled by consumers of this product who point the finger at parents!
I have a daughter who is now 7 1/2 months old & had found her way out of the Bumbo seat, and the saet was ON THE FLOOR, and NOT ELEVATED!!..." Wow, all I can say is I really wish you alot of luck with your kids. Your going to need it.

[aprilnr]

I will admit that I am not a perfect parent. Nobody is. But I take fault for anything I do wrong. I don''t lay the blame somewhere else. My common sense told me that that seat would not restrain my kid, and there is no way that I would ever put him on a table or countertop with him in it. But it was great to set him in it to read, play with toys, play patty-cake or ten little pigs until he was able to sit by himself. If I was not going to play with him while he was in it, he didn''t use it. All the parents had to do was read the warning labels and it could all have been avoided.

[ciamia1212]

My 6 month old Grandson was given a Bumbo when he was born. As he got older, we would place him in the seat, ON THE FLOOR, to assist him with learning to sit up. We NEVER left him unattended. At age 4 months, my Grandson was already stiffening up his legs and bowing back in the Bumbo with us watching. We caught him, SEVERAL TIMES, from falling out of the Bumbo.

While this product was created to help in assisting a baby learn to sit upright, we put the Bumbo away when it was proved that even while we were watching him, hands on, he was going to fall out of the seat. Even if he was on the floor, he still could have injured himself.

The Company can publish all of the warning signs that they wish to but we will never use their product again. As with any product made for a baby, Parents should use precautions to keep their child safe and that includes never leaving a infant/toddler unattended. This product, however, is simply not safe.

[aprilnr]

The reason so many people are pointing the finger at the parents is because they were using the seat incorrectly. The newscast stated that they were placing them on a high surface and the babies were falling out. The same thing could happen if they put the baby in a car seat and it fell off of the table. Do you see them recalling those seats everytime that it happens? No, because parents are warned against it. The seat is supposed to used for one-on-one play time with your child and to help strengthen their back muscles. When I used it, I was right there playing patty-cake or reading to him. If he was being played with he would not try to squirm out of it. The company has no control over how the parents use the product. If they use it in another way then on the label, whose fault is it? Both me and my sister used it, but when our babies were able to sit up on their own, we no longer used it. I feel that some parents were using it as a seat to keep their child restrained while they went and did something else. And that is not what it is supposed to be used for. Out of all the videos that they played on the news this morning, I only saw one where the parent was right next to the child. The parents were video taping while their child fell out of it in all of the others. I do agree that this product is not for everybody. However, if you are not going to use it correctly as stated on the packaging, then you have only yourself to blame if something happens to your child.

[prytygrneyz]

I am apalled by consumers of this product who point the finger at parents!
I have a daughter who is now 7 1/2 months old & had found her way out of the Bumbo seat, and the saet was ON THE FLOOR, and NOT ELEVATED!! I no longer use the seat, and I do not need a warning label more than the one engraved into my parental repertoire, but please explain to me this: what on Earth is the point of having a product that promotes INDEPENDENT SEATING for a child if your hands must remain on the child at all times while they are sitting in it (note: key word is independent)? Why sell it? What is the point? If I am to buy a product that requires me to keep my hands on my daugher at all times while seated in it, why bother? Might as well sit her in my lap!!!!!
-----The following is RIGHT OFF the website of the manufacturer:
Benefits
- Hands free baby care (See that, HANDS FREE)
- Family Bonding
- Baby can sit up and use both hands at the same time
~Every baby is different, but usually around 8 to 12 weeks of age a baby can begin to hold its head up. Thats when Bumbo babies can start their new adventure independently learning about the world from an upright position. (Did you see "independent" in there? I did!)
~~~SHAME on anyone for pointing the finger at parents for being the ones to make mistakes! EVERYONE makes mistakes, even those who pride themselves in being super parents!!! Shame, shame SHAME!!!

[watyer]

I think those 28 mothers should be tried with CHILD NEGLECT, especially the three with cracked skulls. This goes beyond common sense to them endangering their children''s safety and lives because of their stupidity. I don''t know why those children aren''t taken away from the mothers by child services. But no, let''s recall the object. Can I stab someone''s child and then tell the knife company to recall their knife because it is sharp??

[murilt]

I agree with what most of what was posted. I think the bumbo is a great product and I reccomend it to people I know all the time.

It is a parents responsiblity to keep an eye on their child and read warnings on products they buy. I think that people need to use their common sense when using products for their children. I read the warnings on the bumbo seat. I used it on top of the table so I could put my daughters shoes on or I put it on the counter when I needed to do something in the kitchen when she was really young but I never left her unattended and it was my choice to use the product how I saw fit. When she got old enough to get out of it I obviously did not use it on the table or counter and when she could get out of it I stopped using it all together.

I think the use of the product depends also on the type of child you have, some children (infants) do things before others and nothing out there is a one size fits all product.

I find it appaling that people would need to get a warning sticker for a bumbo they already have! It makes me upset that just like the cold medicine recall responsible parents suffer because the rest of the people can''t figure it out.

[trisomy21mom]

This product like any other is not for every child out there. Because my son is downs syndrome there are many things that I can not, nor would not, use because it is not safe for him. Likewise if your child does have the ability to climb out of it when he is 3-4 months old does not mean that the product is unsafe but that it is not the right product for that child because his ability exceeds the use of the product. You should be happy that your child has abilities above their age. As with any product use your common sense and be an engaged parent making the right decisions for your child.

[aprilnr]

I agree with smwagner5789. I owned one that I used to feed my son with, ON THE FLOOR, because he wouldn''t eat in a highchair. Once he was able to wiggle out of it, I did not use it anymore. Before I bought it, however, I read all of the warnings and labels in the store. If other parents would have done the same, they would have seen that it is not to be used as a restraint. So, don''t give me this poor baby, I am a good parent because I watched my kid and they still fell out of it line. Because if you are such a good parent, then you would have read the labels. Also, if you were really right there watching them and had it on the floor like you were supposed to, then if the baby did fall out, you should have been able to be there to help your baby. Come on parents!!! Don''t go by what other people tell you about the product. This is your kid, not theirs. Read the labels for yourself, and if you are still not sure call your pediatrician. And don''t blame the company because of your stupidity and because YOU didn''t take the initiative to keep YOUR baby safe.

[smwagner5789]

The Bumbo is a GREAT product. If parents would take responsibility and listen to the warnings CLEARLY printed on the seat, none of those injuries would have happened. There ought to be a recall on idiotic parents!

[smwagner5789]

This is the most ridiculous recall EVER. If those parents had read the warnings that already appear ON the seat, their poor babies'' injuries would have been avoided. It says directly on the seat not to use on an elevated surface, what more do people want? The Bumbo seat is a fabulous product and I will still recommend it to my friends with babies! The injuries to those 28 children were completely due to their parents'' carelessness. There ought to be recall on idiotic parents!

[smwagner5789]

This is the most ridiculous recall EVER. If those parents had read the warnings that already appear ON the seat, their poor babies'' injuries would have been avoided. It says directly on the seat not to use on an elevated surface, what more do people want? The Bumbo seat is a fabulous product and I will still recommend it to my friends with babies! The injuries to those 28 children were completely due to their parents'' carelessness. There ought to be recall on idiotic parents!

[michelle0123]

After reading some of these comments, I no longer wonder what kind of uneducated/irresponsible parents leave their child alone in a Bumbo Seat. My seat came with the appropriate warnings and also says that a child may be able to get out of the seat. The purpose of a Bumbo Seat is much like piling pillows around your baby to make sure they don''t fall over when learning how to sit. Would you do thid and not be within an arms reach? It is not for putting in front of the TV and leaving your child unattended. If you are actually supervising your child, then surely you will be close enough to catch your child should they "fall" out. My son can also get out of his seat, but it never has been a problem for us. I use this seat to interact with him face-to-face, the conveinence being that I don''t have to hold him when we play. I agree with the comment that all baby products should be recalled because there are idiot parents out there.....unfortunately for the kids.

[flaca12-2009]

parents keep talking about the child not being watched while there in the seat!!!!!
thats not the point.....I always was by my child when he was in there and its not use...its a waste of time. because my son was 4months and he always came out the seat....so its not safe!!!! even when u watch them...!!!!!!

[buchanans3]

seriously? This is the same stupidity that lead to mcdonalds being sued over hot coffee and that lunatic of a woman who sued Winnebago because she did not realize cruise control was not autopilot and went to the back of the RV to make a sandwich. I just don''t understand the level of stupidity it takes to put a child on an elevated surface like that! I was reading other recalled Items and there are boots being recalled because of a strangulation hazard.... WHAT!!!! they are boots not neck ware... in this Sue Happy Country filled with morons trying to make a buck the easiest laziest way it is amazing anybody can stay in business. And for the rest of us who are not stupid enough to put our child on the kitchen counter we have to watch this and be bombarded by it on the news. get real and start using your brain...

[buchanans3]

seriously? This is the same stupidity that lead to mcdonalds being sued over hot coffee and that lunatic of a woman who sued Winnebago because she did not realize cruise control was not autopilot and went to the back of the RV to make a sandwich. I just don''t understand the level of stupidity it takes to put a child on an elevated surface like that! I was reading other recalled Items and there are boots being recalled because of a strangulation hazard.... WHAT!!!! they are boots not neck ware... in this Sue Happy Country filled with morons trying to make a buck the easiest laziest way it is amazing anybody can stay in business. And for the rest of us who are not stupid enough to put our child on the kitchen counter we have to watch this and be bombarded by it on the news. get real and start using your brain...