Summer Infant Recalls to Repair Baby Bathers Due to Fall and Head Injury Hazard Consumers should order free repair kit
Recall 12262 · Aug 29, 2012 · Summer Infant
2,000,000
units affected
2,000,000
units affected
Facts
- Recall number
- 12262
- Date
- Aug 29, 2012
- Company
- Summer Infant
- Units affected
- 2,000,000
- Product
- Mother's Touch/Deluxe Baby Bathers
- Product type
- Baby Baths and Bathinettes
- Remedy
- Repair
- Hazard
- Falls
The product
This recall involves Summer Infant baby bathers with a small, nearly square blue or pink plastic base measuring about 13 ½ inches long by 12 ½ inches wide and with the following model numbers listed below. Model numbers are located either on the side of the baby bather near the warning label or on the front near the wash instructions. Some units have multiple model numbers. Model numbers with an additional letter at the end of the model number are also included in this recall. Recalled Summer Infant Baby Bathers Model Numbers 08020, 08050, 08054, 08070, 08401, 08409, 08404, 08405, 08650, 08655, 08659, 08754, 08940, 08944, 18004, 18040, 18049, 18050, 18120, 18125, 18129, 18254, 18360, 18375, 18379, 18390, 18394, 18440, 18445, 18449, 18470, 18475, 18479, 38510, 38515, 38750, 38755 The bathers have adjustable side hinges with five rivets each and a white wire frame with a mesh fabric sling seat and two or three positions for the seats. Some also have a head support cushion. The fabric seat comes in various colors including white, blue, green, yellow and orange with fish, turtles, butterflies, frogs, flowers and duck patterns. Bathers manufactured since July 2007 include the warning "Never lift or carry the bather with infant in it."
What can happen
When the bather is lifted and/or carried with an infant in it, its folding wire frame can suddenly disengage from the side hinge, dropping the baby out of the bather, posing a fall hazard and a risk of serious head injury to infants.
The fix
Consumers should immediately stop using the bathers and contact Summer Infant for a free repair kit that includes a locking strap and instructions. Note: Even with the new locking strap installed, the baby bather product should never be used to lift and carry an infant.
Incidents and where it was sold
- Incidents
- Four children between two weeks and two months old received skull fractures, including one that required intensive care for bleeding on the brain. The fifth child received a bump to the head requiring emergency room treatment.
- Sold at
- Mass merchandise stores nationwide and on the Web from September 2004 through November 2011 for between $15 and $30.
Related pages
Questions and answers
What should I do with the recalled mother's touch/deluxe baby bathers?
Consumers should immediately stop using the bathers and contact Summer Infant for a free repair kit that includes a locking strap and instructions. Note: Even with the new locking strap installed, the baby bather product should never be used to lift and carry an infant.
What is the hazard?
When the bather is lifted and/or carried with an infant in it, its folding wire frame can suddenly disengage from the side hinge, dropping the baby out of the bather, posing a fall hazard and a risk of serious head injury to infants.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data; texts are shortened. Contact the company named above for the remedy.