Bumbo baby seats, otherwise synonymous with Bumbo floor seats, are designed to seat young children who are unable to sit up on their own. Their applications promote posture while stabilizing developing infants. Of significant concern, however, are reports of serious injuries that have resulted from children maneuvering out of or falling from a Bumbo Baby Seat. Accordingly, approximately 4 million Bumbo Baby Seats are currently being recalled after nearly two dozen reports of infant skull fractures.
If you or a loved one has a child that has been injured by a Bumbo Baby Seat, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free confidential case evaluation. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and we can help.
Bumbo Baby Seat Recall Lawsuit Overview
Bumbo Baby Seats were developed by Bumbo International Trust, of South Africa. They were developed with the intentions of helping children sit up who are otherwise unable to do so on their own. The floor seat stabilizes the child into slight hip flexion, placing the pelvis in a slight anterior pelvic tilt which facilitates lumbar extension. This action, combined with the gentle curve of the seat back that matches the natural curve of the rib cage, facilitates the baby around the lower ribs and trunk for stabilization. The Seat allows for active practice of the head and postural trunk control. It also allows a child the pelvic stability needed to get the hands into the mid line for play. Upright positioning facilitates an improved visual field of the environment, improved respirations and breath control, assists a baby who needs to be upright after feeding due to reflux and many other benefits.
However, Bumbo Baby Seats have recently become the subject of increasing scrutiny. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), babies can maneuver out of or fall from the Bumbo seat, posing a risk of serious injuries. CPSC and Bumbo International know of at least 50 incidents after the October 2007 voluntary recall in which babies fell from a Bumbo seat while it was being used on a raised surface. Nineteen of those incidents included reports of skull fractures. The CPSC and Bumbo International are aware of an additional 34 post-recall reports of infants who fell out or maneuvered out of a Bumbo seat used on the floor or at an unknown elevation, resulting in injury. Two of these incidents involved reports of skull fractures, while others reported bumps, bruises and other minor injuries.
The CPSC, in cooperation with the Bumbo, have recently announced a voluntary recall of nearly 4 million Bumbo Baby Seats. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Bumbo Baby Seat Problems
According to reports, children may easily fall from Bumbo Baby Seats. The subsequent falls have resulted in several children becoming critically injured. The most common reported injuries are those resulting in blunt trauma from impacting the ground after a fall. These problems were allegedly addressed in a 2007 recall of the same product. However, since then, an additional 34 reports have been submitted by parents whose child suffered from a skull fracture after falling out of the chair.
A skull fracture is a break in one or more of the eight bones that form the cranial portion of the skull, usually occurring as a result of blunt force trauma. If the force of the impact is excessive, the bone may fracture at or near the site of the impact and cause damage to the underlying physical structures contained within the skull such as the membranes, blood vessels and brains, even in the absence of a fracture.
If your child has experienced a skull fracture, or any other injury after falling out of these devices, your family may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering by filing your own Bumbo Baby Seat recall lawsuit.
Bumbo Baby Seat Recall
The bottom of the Bumbo Baby Seat is round and flat with a diameter of about 15 inches. It is constructed of a single piece of molded foam and comes in various colors. The seat has leg holes and the seat back wraps completely around the child. On the front of the seat in raised lettering is the word “Bumbo” with the image of an elephant on top. The bottom of the seat has the following words: “Manufactured by Bumbo South Africa Material: Polyurethane World Patent No. PCT: ZA/1999/00030.” The back of the seat has several warnings and seats manufactured since 2008 have an additional label on the front of the seat warning against use on raised surfaces.
The child seats were sold by Sears, Target, Toys R Us (including Babies R Us), USA Babies, Walmart, and various other toy and children’s stores nationwide, and various online sellers, from August 2003 through August 2012 for between $30 and $50.
Recall Safety Information
The following safety information acknowledges the actions taken by Bumbo:
August 15, 2012 – Bumbo International Trust is conducting a voluntary recall to add a restraint belt and new warnings to the Bumbo® Baby Seat. Infants can maneuver out of or fall from the seat, posing a risk of serious injuries. Working closely with the CPSC, Bumbo has determined that the potential safety issue can be readily corrected in the home by adding a restraint belt. In addition, Bumbo is providing a new warning sticker for consumers to attach to the seat to re-emphasize existing warnings against use of the seat on any raised surfaces.
Do I Have a Bumbo Baby Seat Recall Lawsuit?
The trial lawyers at The Senators (Ret.) Firm, LLP have decades of experience navigating through complex legislative and regulatory issues and litigating high stakes cases all over the nation. Our law firm focuses on the representation of plaintiffs in Bumbo Baby Seat recall lawsuits. We are currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.
Again, if you or a loved one has a child that has been injured after falling out of a Bumbo Baby Seat, you should contact our lawyers immediately by clicking the link below or calling toll free 1-(949) 557-5800. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and we can help.