Urgent Alert for Parents: 85,000 Highchairs Recalled Over Safety Concerns for Children
TOMY, a leading toy manufacturer, has announced an urgent recall of approximately 85,000 highchairs across the United States and Canada, citing several instances where infants were injured. The company has assured that the chairs do not have to be returned but can be safely repaired.
The safety recall was initiated after numerous parents reported that their children had been harmed while using these chairs. The company responded promptly by disclosing the recall notice on August 31 via the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) website.
Recorded Injuries and Incidents
The company has acknowledged a total of 11 instances of injuries, most of which involved minor scrapes and bruises on children. Additionally, there have been 24 reports of falls and 34 instances where the chairs’ bolts loosened. The primary issue is that the bolts fastening the seat to the highchair structure can become loose, causing the seat to detach and risking infants falling.
Of the chairs affected by this issue, 83,000 were sold in the United States and 2,850 in Canada, as per information provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The company is advising consumers not to return the faulty highchairs. Instead, it’s urging customers to cease using them and to reach out to the company for a free repair kit. The kit includes new bolts and both split and flat washers for easy home repair.
“We are committed to ensuring that your children have access to only the safest products, and we are actively taking steps to correct this issue,” said the company in a statement.
Identifying Affected Models
For parents and guardians who wish to determine if their highchair is part of this safety recall, the list of affected model numbers can be found on the company’s website. The model number and manufacturing date are also located on a label under the chair’s base.
The recalled highchairs have specific design elements: Flair Elite models have a white and orange plastic seat along with a metal pedestal base, while the Flair models have a gray plastic pedestal base and are available in 10 different color combinations.
Where Were These Highchairs Sold?
The highchairs were available for purchase at various retailers, including Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, and Toys ‘R’ Us, as well as online platforms like Amazon, Target.com, Walmart.com, and BedBathAndBeyond.com. The Flair Elite models were sold between 2008 and 2009 for approximately $380, and the Flair models were sold from January 2008 through February 2021, with prices ranging from $230 to $250.
Customers are urged to cross-reference their highchair’s model number to ensure it is not part of this critical recall. If you find that your model is affected, you are advised to stop using the highchair immediately and contact the company for the complimentary repair kit.
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