Summer Infant of Woonsocket, R.I. is voluntarily recalling two million Mother’s Touch Deluxe Baby Bathers in the United States and another 65,000 Deluxe Baby Bathers in Canada. When an infant is carried in the Deluxe Baby Bather, the folding wire frame may become unhinged on the site of the bather. This poses a fall hazard, risking severe head injury to the infant. Summer Infant requests that consumers stop using the bathers immediately. In addition, consumers may contact Summer Infant for a free repair kit that will include further instructions and a locking strap.Even after installing the free repair kit provided by Summer Infant, parents are asked not to carry the child in the bather under any circumstances.
So far, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Summer Infant have been notified of seven falling incidents, including five which resulted in head injuries. Four children between two weeks and two months of age have sustained skull fractures, with one being placed in intensive care for bleeding on the brain.
This isn’t the first time Summer Infant has recalled its products. The company recalled 5,000 of its Garden Play Yard Pals Crib Rail Toy in 1998 after three reports of plastic flower stems breaking. The broken stems created sharp edge hazards that could have possibly led to cut or puncture injuries.
In February 2011, the company voluntarily recalled 1.7 million of its audio and video baby monitors. This happened in response to seven infant deaths between 2004 and 2011 as a result of monitor cord strangulation, two of which involved Summer Infant .
Around the same time in 2011, Summer Infant voluntarily recalled another 58,000 Slim and Secure Video Monitors for faulty rechargeable batteries. The rechargeable batteries in the handheld monitors posed a burn risk to consumers as a result of possible overheating and rupture. The recall came after five reports of battery rupture, three of which caused minor property damage.
The Summer Infant Mother’s Touch Deluxe Baby Bathers that are currently being recalled were manufactured in China, and were sold between September 2004 and November 2011 at a cost of approximately $15.00 to $30.00 per bather. The bathers have a small and nearly square plastic base that is either blue or pink.
Consumers may contact Summer Infant toll-free at 800-426-8627 or visit SummerInfant.com/batherrepairkit for additional information on the baby bather recall. Consumers should also register any products purchased from Summer Infant online so they may be notified of future recalls or additional warning information.