The Consumer Product Safety Commission is recalling millions of baby bathers because several children have suffered serious head injuries.
The Mother’s Touch Deluxe Baby Bathers have a folding wire frame. The problem is the frame can suddenly disengage from the side hinge causing the baby to fall. So far seven babies have been injured, five of them suffered head injuries. Four of the babies received skull fractures, one child required intensive care treatment for bleeding on the brain.
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. They were sold from 2004 through November 2011 at stores nationwide.
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.
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Recalled Summer Infant Baby Bathers |
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Model Numbers |
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08020, 08050, 08054, 08070, 08401, 08409, 08404, 08405, 08650, 08655, 08659, 08754, 08940, 08944 |
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18004, 18040, 18049, 18050, 18120, 18125, 18129, 18254, 18360, 18375, 18379, 18390, 18394, 18440, 18445, 18449, 18470, 18475, 18479 |
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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.”
If you have one of these stop using it and contact Summer Infant at (800) 426-8627 between 8am and 5pm ET Monday through Friday 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.
