Bumbo International Recalls 4 Million Baby Seats: Did You See it Coming?
08-20-2012
Bumbo International’s recently announced recall of baby seats has been gaining significant media attention not only because it affects 4 million units but also because this is all too familiar for the South African company.
I recently spoke with The Christian Science Monitor and U.S. News and World Report about this recall and how companies should effectively handle removing faulty products from the market.
Bumbo International initially pulled the baby seat from the market in 2007 to add a label warning against its use on raised surfaces over potential fall concerns. But a coalition of consumer groups this spring called on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to recall the product a second time and require the manufacturer to redesign the seat and include a safety strap.
At the time, the company stated that the baby seat posed no risk when used properly and that adding the recommended safety strap would give parents a “false sense of security.”
So why is Bumbo International now issuing a second recall and sending affected consumers a repair kit that includes a restraint belt and instructions on how to safely use the seat?
Since announcing the initial recall in 2007, the CPSC and Bumbo International have learned of at least 50 incidents in which babies fell from the recalled baby seats while they were being used on raised surfaces. The agency also received 34 reports of babies falling from the seat while they were being used on the floor or at an unknown elevation. In total, there were 21 reports of infant skull fractures associated with this product.
When infants and children are involved, manufacturers need to keep in mind the potential for misuse. Unfortunately, parents might not always read the fine print on warning labels and just assume that products made for their children are safe. They want to trust that companies are making safe products that pose no risk to their children. That’s why there are federal guidelines in place that require companies to think not only about how a product should be used, but how it might be used.
Bumbo International is taking the right actions to make the seat safer for children by offering free repair kits. Now the company should be primarily focused on ensuring that all consumers not only receive the repair kit in a timely manner, but also that it is installed and used correctly.
Do you think Bumbo International is taking the right actions? Should this recall have been announced sooner? Please share your comments below.
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