August 29, 2012: Summer Infant Recalls Baby Bathers

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Over two million Summer Infant baby bathers have been recalled due to fall and head injury hazards.

What's the Deal?

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Summer Infant Inc., of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, have recalled about 2,065,000 Mother's Touch/Deluxe Baby Bathers (about two million in the US and an additional 65,000 in Canada). When the bather is lifted and/or carried with an infant in it, its folding wire frame can suddenly disengage from the side hinge, dropping the baby out of the bather, posing a fall hazard and a risk of serious head injury to infants.

CPSC and Summer Infant have received seven reports of incidents in the US, including five reports of infants suffering head injuries from falls from the bathers. Four children between 2 and 2 1/2 months old received skull fractures, including one that required intensive care for bleeding on the brain. The fifth child received a bump to the head requiring emergency room treatment.

Do You Own It?

This recall involves Summer Infant baby bathers with a small, nearly square blue or pink plastic base measuring about 13 1/2 inches long by 12 1/2 inches wide and with the following model numbers listed below. 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.

Recalled Summer Infant Baby Bathers Model Numbers:

08020, 08050, 08054, 08070, 08401, 08409, 08404, 08405, 08650, 08655, 08659, 08754, 08940, 08944 18004, 18040, 18049, 18050, 18120, 18125, 18129, 18254, 18360, 18375, 18379, 18390, 18394, 18440, 18445, 18449, 18470, 18475, 18479 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."

The bathers sold at mass merchandise stores nationwide and on the Web from September 2004 through November 2011 for between $15 and $30.

What Should You Do?

Consumers should immediately stop using the bathers and contact Summer Infant 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.

For additional information, contact Summer Infant at (800) 426-8627 between 8 AM and 5 PM EST, Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.summerinfant.com/batherrepairkit. Do not return to stores as the retailers will not have the repair kit.

Click here to see the official recall.