Bumbo International is a South African company that sells soft foam-rubber infant seats. Sally and I had one for George, but he preferred escaping to sitting, so it went to a friend. I notice that Bumbo has issued a recall on this child seat today. Why? Because the instructions did not clearly warn against using the seat on an elevated surface.
The safety agency said it received 28 reports of young children falling out of the seats, including three who suffered skull fractures because the seats had been placed atop tables.
The recall involves sending out new warning stickers and instructions for the seats, and the company warns that parents “should never use the infant seat on a table, countertop, chair or other elevated surface.”
I’m not sure that’s enough. If parents don’t know that they shouldn’t put their infant in this thing on top of a table, I think they need a more detailed instructions than simply avoiding elevated surfaces. Here is a non-exhaustive list that should give parents some direction regarding the safe use of the seat.
Do not place your child in a Bumbo seat that is:
* atop a moving vehicle
* immersed in water
* exposed to lightning strikes (although the Bumbo seat is a fine electric insulator)
* within striking range of a deadly cobra
* covered with bees
* on fire
* suspended over a pit of alligators
Let’s be safe out there.
by Sally
Matt - You're right. I meant to say "other than any of the wonderful pictures that my beautiful wife has taken."