Bumbo baby seat unsafe?

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SALT LAKE CITY — The hugely popular Bumbo Baby Seat is once again in danger of facing a recall by a coalition of consumer groups.

Four million Bumbo seats have been sold across the country since they were created in 2001 — and the chairs have been linked to 33 skull fractures.

The Bumbo seat functions differently than a car seat because it allows the child to sit upright, rather than in a laying position. And because it's not classified as a car seat, infant carrier or baby bath seat, the Bumbo isn't covered by federal or industry standards.

Most of the reported accidents occurred when parents placed the Bumbo seat on a raised surface, like a table, where the manufacturer warns they shouldn't be used. However, there have also been injuries while the seat was being used correctly on the floor.

"The child leans one way or the other or bounces around too much, and all of a sudden the child is head first on the floor," said Jan Hummel, the Safe Kids Adams County Coordinator.

Consumer groups want the Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall the seat and require the manufacturer to make it safer.

But Bumbo International contends that the seat is safe when used as intended.

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Bumbo Baby Seat being branded as unsafe for children | ksl.com

So leave them on the floor I guess :)

Ouch! Still would be fairly painful to fall even on the ground, especially considering the odd angle the child would be on, seeing as they are pretty much stuck in the seat. I dunno, I love my Bumbo, but I don't trust it, I'd never leave DD unsupervised in it. Nor her highchair, I've only ever left her briefly strapped into her rocker or in her exersaucer.

[QUOTE=MadB;3050948
So leave them on the floor I guess :)[/QUOTE]

I suppose..or maybe just watch a little closer if they are on rasied surface :) It does have all sorts of warning on it. I remember as soon as DD could put her feet down, it moved. I stopped using it on a raised surface and out came the high chair.

yeah, i guess common sense goes a long way. anything can be dangerous if used incorrectly (or if you just get unlucky)

Sense and supervision is the key. I too love my.. i mean DD's bumbo. Im sure there have been more skull fractures with children falling off beds and couches, i dont see them recalling them.

It specifically says in big big letters not to put the seat on any raised surface.

I remember with DD I had to stop using it because she used to stiffen and straighten herself out while sitting in it and it would tip over. We only ever used it on the floor.

Indie my ds did that too. He'd stiffen then basically roll out of it. He thought he was pretty clever! I put it away after that. I will admit that I used mine up on our bench while I prepped dinner, but I was always less than an arms length from him.
I agree. Common sense is the key!

We love our bumbos here and just recently sold 2 of the 3 we had. DS2 will not let me part with his and still sits in it now and he is 5!

I remember shortly after I bought it in 07, there was a warning issued for this exact reason - people were putting their kids on raised surfaces. I would never put a child in a bouncer/rocker on a raised surface so never did it in the bumbo.

supervision is totally the key here. Like PZ said, you also wouldnt want to leave your kids alone in a highchair for similar reasons.