4 million Bumbo Seats have been recalled in the US in 2012 – after causing numerous cases of injuries and skull fractures in infants. (Picture Source: Daily Mail)
Are you putting your baby in a Bumbo Seat that looks like the one in the picture above, on an elevated surface? If so, you might want to think twice about doing that and check the side of the Bumbo for the warning label that states ‘Never use on any elevated surface’ to prevent falls.
Bumbo Baby Seats, the colourful and moulded foam seats for infants, have been voluntarily recalled by the South African company in 2012. This recall effort was initiated after receiving scores of reported infant injuries, including 2 dozen cases of skull fractures.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), it is found that babies can arch their backs and wriggle out of the Bumbo Seat easily – which leaves them vulnerable to injury.
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Free repair kit for seats bought from 2003-2012
The free repair kit includes a restraint belt to prevent children from getting out or falling from the seat. (Picture source: Daily Mail)
Bumbo International has asked consumers who bought the seat between 2003 and 2012 to register for a free repair kit through their website (www.recall.BumboUSA.com). The repair kit contains a restraint belt they can install to the seat (installation instructions will be provided), a warning sticker and safe-use instructions.
In a press statement released back then, the company said that the restraint belt will help prevent children from getting out of or falling from the seat when it is used as intended: on the floor with adult supervision and never on raised surfaces. ‘The health and safety of children using the Bumbo Baby Seat are our top priorities,’ said the statement.
Parents in Singapore who have bought the Bumbo Seat from local retailers (e.g. Mothercare, Kiddy Palace and Toys “R” Us) can email info@bumbo.co.za to arrange for a repair kit to be sent to their address.
The news of reported infant injuries came 5 years after the baby seats were recalled for the first time so they could be labelled with warnings against their use on raised surfaces.
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Read the next page for details of the first round of recalls on the Bumbo Seats in 2007.
First round of recalls
In 2007, 1 million Bumbo Seats were recalled for additional labels that warn parents against placing the Bumbo Seats on elevated surfaces.
In October 2007, approximately 1 million Bumbo Seats were recalled for additional labels that warn parents against placing the Bumbo Seats on elevated surfaces such as kitchen counters and tables.
Sadly, following this first recall, CPSC and Bumbo International South Africa have received reports of 28 falls from the seat – 3 of which resulted in skull fractures in infants who fell or manoeuvred out of the seat that was placed on an elevated surface.
Prior to this 2007 recall, there were 46 reports of falls from Bumbo Seats used on elevated surfaces, which included 14 skull fractures, 2 concussions and 1 incident of a broken limb.
Bumbo Seats – safe or not?
Are Bumbo Seats safe for your little ones?
The reports of infants who were severely injured as a result of misuse of the Bumbo Seat serve as a good reminder for parents to be wary when it comes to using baby equipment and products.
We asked a few parents on our online forum about this issue, and here is what they had to say:
“I’ve never had an issue with my Bumbo. Safest place is on the floor – we kept ours on the foam mats and stopped using it when my daughter was able to crawl/wriggle around.”
“I can see the dangers of [using the Bumbo Seat] with a child that has the ability to stand up, crawl and wriggle around. That’s why we stopped using it when my little one was about 7 months. Still, it was a godsend from about 3 to 7 months. I think the belt strap will help massively so that its use can be extended.”
“The Bumbo Seat is great when they aren’t moving too much, but once they get active – we got to be really careful about leaving them in there.”
Keep reading the next page for some tips on using the Bumbo Seat safely.
Find out how to keep your tots safe in the Bumbo Seat…
I myself am a big fan of the Bumbo Seat. Apart from letting my little one have a go at sitting up, it’s so easy to clean and carry around. As she grew bigger and more active, I have used the Bumbo Seat every now and then during mealtimes – making sure to position it on the foam playmat and with me sitting right in front of her.
So it is still possible to use the Bumbo Seat with your little ones and keep things safe. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind while having your tot in the seat:
- Follow the instructions on the safety sticker: Do not use the Bumbo Seat on high surfaces. This poses way too much risk to your baby – and is not all that different from letting your baby sit on a counter or table unattended.
- Place the Bumbo Seat on a foam playmat on the floor. This helps to provide a safety cushion in the event that your baby decides to wriggle her way out of the seat by arching forward.
- Make sure to position yourself in front of your tot when she is sitting in the Bumbo Seat. Keep a close watch of her movements and cues, and carry her out of the seat when she appears to be restless or is trying to get up from the seat.
- The Bumbo Seat is designed to help your baby adopt good sitting postures right from the start – so do make sure that she is able to hold up her head before putting her in the seat.
- Do not leave your baby unattended in the Bumbo Seat, even if it’s just ‘for a few seconds’. Also, be sure to fasten the restraint belt whenever your little one is sitting in it.
Do you have any other safety tips on using the Bumbo Seat? Do share with us by commenting below – we’d love to hear from you!