Bumbo International

Update on Safety Campaign Progress

noemail@bumbosafety.com — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Hello, Thank you for registering through the Bumbo Baby Seat Safety Web site to receive updated warning stickers and instruction leaflets. We would like to take a moment to give you an update. Within the next few weeks, we will have revised instructions and warning labels to stress falling danger of using the Bumbo Baby Seat on any elevated surface and to emphasize that a baby should never be left unattended in the Bumbo Baby Seat. We expect production and printing of our updated instructions and warning label stickers to take approximately two weeks. You should receive your new...

30-Oct-07 7:00 PM

National Press Columnist Marni Soupcoff on the Bumbo Recall

noemail@bumbosafety.com — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:00:00 GMT

Click here to see the article.

Bumbo recall

It seems obvious that babies need close supervision no matter what kind of seat, pen (excuse me, “play yard”) or crib they are entrusted to. They’re wriggly little things who have little concept of the danger of a fall and are keen to escape and explore. That’s why I was surprised to read about the recall of a line of foam baby seats called Bumbos. As a bit of ordinary common sense could easily have predicted, it turns out that babies left in Bumbos on elevated surfaces can flip out of the seats and fall on to the floor, creating a serious risk of head injury. After reports of 28 Bumbo falls, three of which resulted in skull fractures, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary Bumbo recall.

Better safe than sorry, I suppose, but I don’t think the Bumbo is really to blame. Babies can just as easily have bad falls if they’re tucked in to car seats or bouncy chairs, then left on a counter or table. The problem isn’t the seat itself, it’s the placement: If it’s far enough above the ground to make a potential fall dangerous, it shouldn’t be there.

Our family’s Bumbo has been handed down to friends who are expecting, so I can’t check it, but I could have sworn it had a warning on it about elevated surfaces. Our car seat and bouncy chair certainly do.

Consumers have every right to expect that the products they buy — especially products that are designed and marketed for vulnerable babies, young children and elderly people — are safe when used properly. But the onus for using a bit of reason and caution has to remain with the caregiver. Which is why I feel sorry for the makers of Bumbo.

26-Oct-07 12:00 PM

Warning: Be Careful With Bumbo

noemail@bumbosafety.com — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:00:00 GMT

To go to the ABC Good Morning America report, please click here. Warning: Be Careful With Bumbo CPSC Warns Parents Should Be Extra Careful When Leaving Children in the Bumbo Seat Touted on a company Web site as a snug and cozy environment for your baby, the Bumbo Seat infant chair may actually be the opposite. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning parents to take caution -- your child could be in danger if the seat is used improperly. The Bumbo Seat, recommended for babies between two months and 14 months, doesnt have any safety belt or harness. The plastic seat is designed to help babies sit upright and develop trunk control before they can do so on their own. But babies who arch their backs while sitting in the Bumbo can flip out of the seat and land on their heads, a fall that could be deadly if the Bumbo is placed high on a table or countertop. Amber Black said she watched in horror as her baby, Brookyln, fell out of a Bumbo Seat and off the kitchen counter...

25-Oct-07 8:00 AM

Your Baby Week Eight

noemail@bumbosafety.com — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:00:00 GMT

By eight weeks, your baby is likely getting tired of simply lying around all the time.

Now that she has better neck and head control, she is likely to want to be in a more upright position for some or much of the day. You may notice this as your baby gets bored or fussy when trying to place her in a position where she is just lying down, like in a car seat, glider, or crib. Instead of lying down all of the time, your baby is going to want to start sitting up more often.

At this point, many parents begin to use a swing or bouncer to keep their baby entertained. While kids enjoy these baby products, since they still put pressure on your child's head, they can still put your baby at risk for developing a flat head.

Other baby products that your baby may enjoy at this age, and which can help keep your baby in an upright position and off her head, include a:

Bumbo Baby Seat
Maya Wrap Sling
BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier

Parents often think of using a wrap sling in the horizontal, newborn carry position. Keep in mind that you can also use your wrap sling in a snuggle hold position to keep your baby facing you in an upright position. And once your newborn is three to six months old, you can switch to a kangaroo-type position to hold your baby upright and facing forward.

Bumbo Baby Seat Safety

Unlike a wrap sling or baby carrier, the Bumbo Baby Seat doesn't include anything to help support your baby's head. That makes it important to either supervise your baby and continue to support your baby's head while she is in the Bumbo Baby Seat or wait until she has good enough head control to sit in the seat without help.

29-Sep-07 6:00 AM

Do Bumbo chairs provide a safe seat for your baby?

noemail@bumbosafety.com — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 22:00:00 GMT

See the story here.

Have a baby? Have a Bumbo. The colorful foam seats are giving babies everywhere a comfortable place to sit, while giving Mom a break.

"It gives me an opportunity to set her down and do something with her brother if he needs some attention," says Jacinta Cameron, a busy mother of two.

Parents say they help babies learn to sit up sooner and prevent flat spots on the head.

"She (Maguire) had a bit of a flat head syndrome so I needed something else to keep her upright, and keep her off her head all the time," says Robyn Colvin-Smith, mother of Maguire, now a toddler.

But the seats don't have a safety strap or restraint. The manufacturer says it's ergonomically designed so the baby's own body weight keeps them in place. It's recommended for babies up to 22 pounds. But this Calgary mom says her baby could get out of it when she was only 16 pounds.

"She'd try and straighten out her body... and pop right out of the chair," adds Kristell Court, mother of 8 month-old Abby.

The manufacturer's warning label states the chair is to be used on the floor only. But because it's so portable, there's the temptation to put it on high surfaces, like countertops and tables.

"It's not a matter of it if will happen, it's a matter of when because if you put that on a high surface the child will fall," says Carol Beringer-Brown, of the Calgary Health Region's KIDSAFE program.

Falls are the leading cause of injuries to kids under 5 in Alberta.

Health Canada says there have been no reported injuries associated with Bumbo chairs. The company that distributes them in Calgary, maintains they are safe when used as intended.

"It's a great product to use on the floor, supervised. If parents are using it on raised surface, they're doing it at their own risk," according to Narda Simpson, who imports Bumbo chairs from South Africa.

Bumbo chairs, and a similar model, called Bebe Pod, are a new class of baby product currently unregulated in Canada. That means, they don't meet strict safety standards, like those for car seats and cribs.

As these chairs get more popular, some think the regulations may have to change to include these types of booster-like seats.

6-Nov-06 4:00 PM

The Bumbo Baby Sitter - Safe and comfortable seating for babies

noemail@bumbosafety.com — Fri, 03 Sep 2004 18:00:00 GMT

While caring for his infant grandson, mechanical engineer Johan Buitendach noticed that babies like to sit up and observe their surroundings - but they lack the physical co-ordination to do so. So he designed a seat that could comfortably hold and support an infant in any surroundings. He started with a block of polystyrene and an exactor blade. Eight years later Buitendach has a comfortable baby seat for the next crop of grandchildren and a product that is sold in 33 countries. The Bumbo Baby Sitter enables a baby of 2-12 months to sit unaided, without the encumbrance of straps, belts or clips. The product has been approved by standards bodies around the world. As Buitendach knows, taking an idea from concept to commercial reality is not a walk in the park. Fortunately for him, his experience of global trade fairs meant he was already familiar with the principles of design and manufacture, intellectual property protection and marketing. He owns and manages Jonibach Patterns &...

3-Sep-04 1:00 PM

Bumbo International Takes Action to Strengthen, Update Instructions and Packaging for Canadian Consumers

noemail@bumbosafety.com — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 16:00:00 GMT

No Need for Consumers to Return Bumbo Baby Seats, Just Follow New Instructions CALGARY, AB, October 27, 2007 - Bumbo™ International (www.bumbo.co.za), manufacturer of the popular Bumbo Baby Sitter, today announced it is temporarily removing the popular Bumbo Baby Sitter from store shelves to update the instructions and packaging. The Bumbo Baby Seat can safely be used on a flat ground-level surface. It is not defective and does not need to be returned. No refunds are being offered. The action, taken in cooperation with Health Canada, strengthens the wording of the instructions to emphasize that the Bumbo Baby Seat should never be used on any elevated surface such as a table, countertop or chair because children can get out of the seat, fall and get hurt. Reports have been received of children being seriously injured after falling out of chairs placed on elevated surfaces. In addition to warnings currently present on the outer box and on the chair itself, the new instructions will...

Bumbo International Issues Clarification on Recall

noemail@bumbosafety.com — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:00:00 GMT

No Need for Parents to Return Product, Just Follow New Warnings

HOUSTON, October 26, 2007 - Bumbo International (www.bumboseat.com) is hoping to clear up confusion about this week's recall announcement. The recall has to do only with the warnings, instructions and packaging of the Bumbo Baby Seat. The product itself is not defective and does not need to be returned. No refunds are being offered.

"When people hear the word "recall," they assume they should take the product back, but in this case the Bumbo Baby Seat is fine but the warnings, instructions and packaging need to be updated," said Mark Buchanan a representative of Bumbo International. "We are getting the word out that parents should never use the Bumbo Baby Seat on an elevated surface, but the product can be used safely on the floor with a parent or guardian nearby."

Bumbo International, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, temporarily removed the Bumbo Baby Seat from store shelves earlier this week to update the warnings, instructions and packaging. Consumers who own a Bumbo Baby Seat can download updates or order them online at www.bumbosafety.com, or via phone at 877-WE-BUMBO.

First introduced in 2003, the Bumbo Baby Seat has been enjoyed by more than two million families around the world. When used on a flat ground-level surface with a parent or guardian nearby, the Bumbo Seat provides a safe, comfortable environment, enabling babies to sit up and interact with their surroundings in ways they never could before.

About Bumbo International

Bumbo International, based in South Africa, designed and manufactures the Bumbo Baby Sitter, a new concept in infant chairs that enables babies to sit upright as soon as they have head control. Perfect for babies as young as three months and up to approximately 22 pounds, the Bumbo Seat has won numerous design awards. For more information, visit www.bumbobabyseat.com.

Bumbo International Encourages Consumers to Order Updated Warning Labels and Instructions

noemail@bumbosafety.com — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:00:00 GMT

In Partnership With Consumer Product Safety Commission, Company Strengthens Warnings Against Use of Bumbo Baby Seat on Elevated Surfaces HOUSTON, October 25, 2007 - Bumbo™ International today announced it is voluntarily removing the popular Bumbo Baby Sitter from store shelves temporarily to update warnings and instructions. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bumbo International is also making available new warning label stickers and instructions free of charge. Anyone wishing to order new warning label stickers and instructions for their Bumbo Baby Seat should visit www.bumbosafety.com or call toll-free (877) WE-BUMBO (877-932-8626). Concerns about improper use of the Bumbo Baby Seat surfaced following several reports of injuries. In response, Bumbo International is strengthening the warning to emphasize the dangers of using the Bumbo Baby Seat on any elevated surface. The new, updated warning will read: WARNING - Prevent Falls; Never use on any...

Serious Head Injuries Prompt Recall of Bumbo Baby Sitter Seats New Warnings and Instructions to Be Provided To Consumers

noemail@bumbosafety.com — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Name of product: Bumbo Baby Sitter Seats Units: About 1 million Manufacturer: Bumbo International, of South Africa Hazard: If the seat is placed on a table, countertop, chair, or other elevated surface, young children can arch their backs, flip out of the Bumbo seat, and fall onto the floor, posing a risk of serious head injuries. Incidents/Injuries: CPSC has received 28 reports of young children falling out of the Bumbo Baby Sitter seat, including three skull fractures, which occurred when children fell out of chairs that had been placed on tables. Description: The bottom of the children’s 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 yellow, blue, purple, pink, aqua, and lime green. The seat has leg holes and seat back that...

Bumbo Baby Seat Fact Sheet

noemail@bumbosafety.com — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 05:00:00 GMT

The Bumbo™ Baby Seat was introduced in 2002.

The Bumbo Baby Seat is used or has been used by more than one million families in the U.S. and about two million around the world.

The award-winning design of the Bumbo Baby Seat enables babies to sit upright by themselves much earlier in their development.

Bumbo Baby Seats are suitable for babies as soon as they can support their own heads unaided until they are physically developed enough to get out of the seat.

Bumbo Baby Seat has a favorable orthopedic effect that is important to assist in the correct spinal development of an infant.

The Bumbo Seat's key feature is that it places your baby's bottom at a lower level than the leg openings. This provides provides the lumbar region of the spine with proper support and the baby's hip and knee joints enjoy increased flexibility, which has the benefit of decreasing stress on the baby's spine.

The Bumbo Baby Seat is made of environmentally friendly low-density polyurethane foam, which provides a hygienic non-toxic coating that wipes clean in seconds.

The Bumbo Baby Seat is lightweight (about 3 pounds) so it can easily go where the family goes.

The Bumbo Baby Seat is soft and comfortable for your baby and its front support keeps your baby from sliding forward.

The Bumbo Baby Seat does not require any difficult or uncomfortable straps or fasteners that restrict a baby’s movement. Because some babies will be able to move out of the Bumbo Baby Seat, it’s important for parents not to leave the baby unattended.

The Bumbo Baby Seat meets U.S. and international consumer safety standards.

For more information on the Bumbo Baby Seat, go to www.bumboseat.com.

Bumbo Baby Seat Safety Q&A

noemail@bumbosafety.com — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 01:00:00 GMT

What have you announced? Some families have been using the Bumbo™ Baby Seat on elevated surfaces, which is an unsafe use of the product because children can get out of the seat, fall and get hurt. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the manufacturers of the Bumbo Baby Seat have agreed to make available new warning label stickers and instructions. If you would like to order new warning label stickers and instructions, please click here. Additionally, we have temporarily removed the Bumbo Baby Seat from store shelves until the product packaging can be updated. Are Bumbo Baby Seats being recalled? Technically, this is a recall, but the Bumbo Baby Seat itself is perfectly safe when used properly and does not need to be returned. Instead, we are updating the warning labels and instructions to emphasize how important it is to NEVER USE THE BUMBO BABY SEAT ON ANY ELEVATED SURFACE. If you would like to order new warning label stickers and instructions, please...

Background on the Bumbo Baby Seat

noemail@bumbosafety.com — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 01:00:00 GMT

About the Bumbo Baby Seat

Introduced in 2002 and used by more than one million families around the world, the Bumbo™ Baby Seat is a snug and cozy environment for your baby. Designed and manufactured by Bumbo International, the seat was designed with a baby's posture in mind. Because the seat is lower than the leg openings, the lumbar region of the spine gets proper support. The Bumbo Baby Seat also helps in proper development of the spine, takes pressure off the hip and knee joints and puts less stress on the spine.

The award-winning design of the Bumbo Baby Seat enables babies to sit upright by themselves much earlier in their development. This revolutionary infant chair is uniquely designed according to the baby’s posture to ensure maximum interaction and enjoyable communication with your child.

Bumbo Baby Seats are suitable for babies from as young as six weeks (or as soon as they can support their own heads unaided) to an age of approximately 12 to 14 months or about 22 pounds.

This Bumbo Baby Seat is manufactured to the highest safety standards from low-density foam material, which makes it lightweight and portable. It is soft and comfortable for the baby, safe, hygienic and nontoxic. The integral outer skin of the material is durable and easy to clean.

To download a high resolution photo of the Bumbo Baby Seat, click here.

For more information on the Bumbo Baby Seat, go to www.bumboseat.com.

Downloads for Canadian Consumers

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:22:34 GMT

Bumbo™ International, in cooperation with Health Canada, is taking action to strengthen the wording of the product's instructions to emphasize that the Bumbo Baby Seat should never be used on any elevated surface such as a table, countertop or chair because children can get out of the seat, fall and get hurt. Reports have been received of children being seriously injured after falling out of chairs placed on elevated surfaces.

In addition to warnings currently present on the outer box and on the chair itself, the new instructions will emphasize that to PREVENT FALLS never use on any elevated surface.

Download the new instruction leaflet (in English and French) by clicking here.

Download the new warning sticker (in English and French) by clicking here.

Order the new instruction leaflet by clicking here.

Use the Bumbo Seat Safely

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:21:15 GMT

We care about the families who use our products and we are very concerned that some parents have been placing the Bumbo Baby Seat on elevated surfaces. In the past, our warnings, instructions and even some of our packaging may not have been strong enough in warning NOT to use the Bumbo Baby Seat on any elevated surface. This is why we are working to get the word out that to prevent falls, you should NEVER use the Bumbo Baby Seat on any elevated surface. Also, because the Bumbo seat is designed not to be totally restrictive, never leave a child unattended in their Bumbo Baby Seat. A child can get out and get hurt. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, we are voluntarily making available free downloads of updated instructional leaflets and safety warning labels. If you are among the more than two million families around the world who already own a Bumbo Baby Seat, we want to assure you that it is perfectly safe when used on a flat, ground-level...

November 9 - Present

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:20:43 GMT

Wow. To date, we have had nearly 1,500 people complete the Bumbo Safety Survey, nearly 6,000 people request updated warnings and instructions and nearly 700 people post their personal stories, observations and comments to this Web site -- all in an effort to help increase awareness of how to use the Bumbo Baby Seat safely.

If you have ordered updated warning labels and instructions, they should be arriving in the mail any day. If you have ever tried to stick something to the Bumbo Baby Seat, you may know it's not easy. The seats are designed to be easy to wipe clean. Therefore, we have developed the following instructions for sticking the new warning label stickers to your Bumbo Baby Seat;

We recommend placing the new warning sticker in a spot that is visible from the front of the seat. The best spot is to the left of the "B" in Bumbo.
Prior to sticking the label to the Bumbo, make sure the area is clean and dry.
For best results, wipe the area with a non-acetone nail polish remover before applying the sticker.
Attach the warning label.
Let dry for five minutes.

We have had lots of people contacting us to ask when they will be able to buy Bumbo Baby Seats again. They are available for immediate purchase online at www.bumboseat.com and at some retailers. It may still be a week or so before they are back on store shelves everywhere.

Before we turn it over to parents to share their Bumbo safety stories, observations and comments, please help us add to our gallery of photos by sending a JPEG of your Bumbo baby to dan@dpkpr.com. Now for your comments:

Parent Forum, October 26 - 27

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:05:22 GMT

To make our parent forum as user friendly as possible and due to the overwhelming response from the Bumbo Baby Seat community, we have decided to start a new conversation string. This forum is intended to assist in information sharing. We hope you will not criticize or personally attack one another. It is important to understand that Bumbo International believes the warnings, instructions and packaging can be improved to clear up any confusion about the safe use of the Bumbo Baby Seat. That's why we are making new warning stickers and instructions available to anyone who wants them by clicking here. It is also why we have temporarily removed the Bumbo Baby Seat from store shelves. However, an independent review of the Bumbo Baby Seat determined that it is not defective, so it is not necessary to return the product and no refunds are being offered.

We believe there is a great deal of value to giving parents a platform to share information so your friends, neighbors and folks you've never met before can learn from your experiences and make informed decisions about how to safely use the Bumbo Baby Seat. We love stories about your successes and the mistakes you made along the way. Please be courteous and kind. And refrain from personal attacks.

Now, who's ready to share their story?

Parent Forum 10/27 - 11/9

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:04:50 GMT

Holy cow, what an incredible few days. We have received close to 5,000 requests from Web users for our new warning sticker labels and updated instructions for the Bumbo Baby Seat. Several hundred others have left their names and addresses on 877-WE-BUMBO and our customer service team is working through more than 1,500 other calls, personally calling each one back to let them know we care about their situation and will get the new warnings and instructions out as quickly as possible. If you would prefer to download them and print them at home, click here.

You may have seen that we've expanded this effort to Canada, so hello to the Canadian consumers who are coming to the site. Canadians can download bilingual (English and French) warnings and leaflets here.

We want to say "thank you" to our Bumbo Baby Seat community for being so interested in what's going on. Rest assured that the Bumbo Baby Seat is not going away. This current initiative is simply an effort to improve the warnings, clarify the instructions and update the packaging to make sure there is no confusion about how to use the Bumbo Baby Seat safely -- always on a flat, fround-level surface and always with a parent right there.

Some have asked if we're editing these or filtering out the less-than-flattering ones. While we reserve the right to do that, we have only deleted a couple (literally two out of 400 to date) that we thought were offensive or threatening.

Now for the important part: YOUR comments.

Downloads for Canadian Consumers

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 16:31:53 GMT

In addition to warnings currently present on the outer box and on the chair itself, the new instructions will emphasize that to PREVENT FALLS Never use on any elevated surface.

You can download the new instruction leaflets by clicking here.

You can order the new instruction leaflets by clicking here.

Messages to the Bumbo Safety Hotline

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:08:52 GMT

We've been working hard to keep up with all the calls, e-mails and Web site orders related to the announcement that we are making new warning label stickers and new instruction leaflets available free of charge to strengthen warnings NEVER to use the Bumbo Baby Seat on any elevated surface.

We want to emphasize that even though this is being called a RECALL, the Bumbo Seat is not a defective product, so we are not . Only the warnings, the instructions and the packaging need to be updated to further emphasize the need to only use the Bumbo Baby Seat on a flat ground-level surface.

We have also been heartened by some great calls coming into our consumer hotline, 877-WE-BUMBO, and wanted to share a few of them with you. We want to make clear that we are not discouraging anyone from ordering new warning label stickers or directions, nor are we criticizing those who do. We are simply sharing what we've heard from the Bumbo Baby Seat community.

MESSAGE 1

MESSAGE 2

Bumbo Seat Safety Survey

noemail@bumbosafety.com — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:00:00 GMT

Objectives:

To determine the percentage of parents whose babies use the Bumbo Seat are aware of warnings about the safe use of the Bumbo.

Release Date: 23-Oct-07 2:00 PM
Expiration Date: 21-Jan-09 2:00 PM
Please take a moment to answer a few questions about Bumbo Seat safety.

Elijah

Sat, 10 May 2008 21:40:44 GMT

Elijah James from Ohio.

Grandson Drake sitting in his Bumbo.

Sat, 10 May 2008 21:40:44 GMT

Submitted by Brenda. Thanks!

Jessica in her Bumbo

Sat, 10 May 2008 21:40:44 GMT

Submitted by Kimberly. Thanks!

Exploring her surroundings

Sat, 10 May 2008 21:40:44 GMT

Baby Jessica in her Bumbo submitted by Kimerly. Thanks!

Color coordinated shirt/Bumbo combo

Sat, 10 May 2008 21:40:44 GMT

Submitted by Erik Smith. Thanks!

Sophie Sits Up

Sat, 10 May 2008 21:40:44 GMT

Sophie explores her new surroundings.

Sophie Bundled Up

Sat, 10 May 2008 21:40:44 GMT

Bundled up in the Bumbo.

That's one scary shirt

Sat, 10 May 2008 21:40:44 GMT

Submitted by BJ Lanza, who says "I was sad to see that people were mis-using the Bumbos. We love ours and would never have left our child unattended and we certainly would NEVER put it on a higher surface! Our child has Torticollis and the bumbo has been a great tool in strenthening his neck muscles."

The leaves are falling

Sat, 10 May 2008 21:40:44 GMT

Graham submitted by JWEG. Thanks!

Looks like a movie star

Sat, 10 May 2008 21:40:44 GMT

Lil Aliyah loves her Bumbo!

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2007-10-23T18:25:05Z

Instructor: Instructor

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