CPSC: Bumbo Baby Seats pose risk of fall and serious head injuries

The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has issued a safety alert for Bumbo Baby Seats, reminding parents not to use the infant chairs on table tops or other elevated surfaces. Infants have a significant risk of serious head injuries if they fall out of the Bumbo seat from such heights.

The CPSC says the seat, made by Bumbo International Trust of South Africa, is marketed to help infants sit upright. However in 2007, the federal safety regulators and Bumbo International initiated a recall warning of the infant seats after receiving some 28 reports of babies falling out of the chair. Three of those incidents involved infants who suffered skull fractures resulting from falls in which the seats were placed on raised heights.

While the Bumbo seats now have labels that warn consumers that the chair "may not prevent release of your baby in the event of vigorous movement," the CPSC says it continues to receive reports of infant falls.

In its latest warning, the federal agency says it is aware of at least 45 incidents involving infants falling out of Bumbo Baby Seats which were placed on a table, counter top or in an adult-sized chair. Of those reports, 17 babies less than 12-months in age received skull fractures from their falls. The CPSC and Bumbo International say they have also received an additional 50 reports of falls involving seats that were used on the floor or at "unknown elevations."

The CPSC reminds parents and care-givers that infants as young as 3 months can fall from the seat by arching, leaning, or rocking. Parents and care-givers should exercise caution when using infant chairs such as Bumbo Baby Seats.

For more safety information, check out Consumer Reports' free guide to infant high chairs.

Serious Head Injuries to Infants Continue Due to Falls from Bumbo Baby Seats Used on Elevated Surfaces [CPSC]

—Paul Eng