CSPC Warns "metoo" Clip On Baby Seats Unsafe

June 10, 2011

High chairs and baby seats can are a great help to busy parents, providing a safe way for them to feed their children. The chairs keep children at table-level, allowing them to eat and interact while safely restrained in their seats.

However, highchairs, like many baby products, are frequently recalled due to defects and general safety hazards. Parents should regularly check the recall status of their frequently used baby products in order to better ensure their children's safety.

Those who own the "metoo" clip on chair by phil&teds, may be troubled to know the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a warning that some "metoo" clip-on table top chairs put young children at risk of serious injury due to multiple safety hazards.

CPSC has urged consumers to stop using some metoo clip-on chairs immediately. CPSC states there have been numerous incidents involving the affected metoo chairs.

The chairs have been sold since May 2006 from philandteds.com, Amazon.com, Buy Buy Baby, Target, Toys R Us, and other stores.

metoo Clip-on Baby Seat

The metoo seat is an infant/toddler chair that clamps onto tables using two metal vise clamps. The upper part of each clamp rests on the table top and has either a rubber clamp pad on its underside or a rubber boot covering it.

The clip-on chairs affected by this warning do not have plastic spacers between the table clamps and the front horizontal metal bar. The CPSC website has picture of the product, showing the difference between the chairs that have plastic spacers between the table clamps and the front horizontal metal bar are under evaluation.

Recall Refused

The company has refused to agree to a national recall of their hazardous product that is acceptable to CPSC. The company, instead, is offering a repair kit consisting of rubber boots to place on the upper clamp grips of the chairs.

Consumers should be aware that CPSC has not approved a repair kit for this product, despite the firm's prior statement that it was conducting a recall "in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission."

CPSC is urging consumers to stop using the affected "metoo" chairs to prevent the risk of injury to children.

Danger Of Falls And Amputation For Babies

Children sitting in any type of high chair face a potential risk of injuries should they fall. Babies and small toddlers are often very active, and a chair needs to be built with that behavior in mind.

The CPSC states the affected metoo chairs pose serious fall and amputation hazards to children placed in them. If the chair detaches and falls off the table, any child sitting in the chair is subject to the risk of significant head injuries.

CPSC staff has determined that the clamps can detach from a variety of different table surfaces. Additionally, the chairs can detach when children move around or use their feet to push, as small children like to, against other objects.

The CSPC has also determined additional injuries a possible because of the lack of adequate space between the horizontal metal bar at the front of the chair and the clamps, causing children's fingers to be severely pinched, lacerated, crushed or amputated if caught between the bar and the clamp when the chair detaches.

Along with the hazards posed by the affected clip-on chairs, the product packaging and instructions provide conflicting information, which may add to consumer confusion over how to properly use the chair.

The product's packaging and marketing information show the product being used in ways that may lead to the chair detaching from the table. However, the product's instructions do not adequately warn against this type of use.

phil&teds' Response

On phil&teds' website, they defend the product, stating that the chairs may have been damaged, with the rubber grip pads missing, and this was a contributing factor in some of the incidents, as was poor connection to the table surface.

They suggest that the missing pads, leaving bare metal clamps, which if tightened fully, could damage a table, may lead to some users not adequately tightening the clamps and allowing the chair to fall off the table.

phil&teds has made a rubberized clamp "sock" available. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has not yet approved this kit.

If you have had an incident involving a metoo clip on chair, you should report the event on the CSPC's Safterproducts.gov website. This new database allows consumers to report occurrences of safety problems with products.

If your child was injured because of the metoo chair, speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you determine if legal action may be available as a result of the injuries you child has suffered.

Article provided by The Heller Law Firm
Visit us at www.seriousinjury.org