Bumbo Faces Product Liability Suits, Scrutiny From CPSC

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Bumbo Faces Product Liability Suits, Scrutiny From CPSC

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

The Bumbo seat is an incredibly popular baby item – over 4 million have sold in the US alone since the product was introduced in 2003. However, the baby seat manufacturer continues to face scrutiny and litigation over whether the product is safe.

The “company recalled Bumbo in 2007 after a spate of 28 injuries reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission – including numerous skull fractures – and placed warning labels on the seats that said they shouldn’t be used on elevated surfaces…Then in late November, the CPSC issued an unusual warning that there had been another 45 incidents since the recall, and that it had learned of another 18 older cases. It also noted that children were hurt both when the product was elevated and when it was on the ground,” reports Reuters via Yahoo!

A products liability attorney for one family – Kevin and Lucy Ferrell – has filed a lawsuit alleging that Bumbo “has taken no effort” to redesign the product to address design flaws and safety concerns, “despite having actual knowledge of the dangers associated with the Bumbo Baby Sitter…and the potential of the Bumbo Baby Sitter to cause serious injury to children.”

A statement released by the Bumbo company indicates “The Bumbo baby seat is a safe product for infants when it is used as intended: on the floor and never on an elevated surface. Children should always been closely supervised when they are in the Bumbo seat.” The company has also indicated that it is working with the CPSC to teach parents how to use the baby item correctly to prevent injury.

Some of the suggested design changes which might make the Bumbo seat more safe include:

  • Wider base for better stability
  • Raised side and back to prevent baby from falling backward or sideways
  • Seat belt or other harness restraint

The latest case against Bumbo, filed by the Ferrells, is still in the pretrial phase.

Products Liability

Our Chicago products liability attorneys know that just because products are on the store shelves does not automatically mean they are safe – particularly baby items. For this reason, it is imperative to follow all safety instructions, and most importantly, never leave your baby unattended. If you have to put your baby down, the safest place for them is in a crib or baby item with a five point harness like a baby swing or infant seat.

If your child has been injured due to a faulty product or lack of appropriate labeling and safety instructions, speak with a Chicago products liability attorney right away.

DISCLAIMER: All information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as legal advice. The Law Offices of Malman Law shall not be liable for any errors or inaccuracies contained herein, or any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Steve Malman

Malman Law’s founder Attorney Steven Malman has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, nursing home, medical malpractice, truck accidents, car accidents, premises liability, construction, and workers’ compensation cases in Chicago, IL.

Years of experience: +30 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active and authorized to practice law—Last Registered Year: 2024

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