# Bumbo baby seats safety warning - huh?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumbo-baby-seats-safety-warning-huh/424058>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 26, 2007, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumbo-baby-seats-safety-warning-huh/424058 "2007-10-26T01:40:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumbo-baby-seats-safety-warning-huh/424058/1 "2007-10-26T01:40:25Z")

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[Link.](http://www.kmiz.com/news/story.php?id=9636&author=News%20Staff&category=&franchise=Recall%20Alerts&county=&city=&partner=)

The baby seat as purchased says on the back,

> [@](#):
>
> “WARNING” – “Never use on a raised surface. Never use as a car seat or bath seat. Designed for floor level use only. Never leave your baby unattended as the seat is not designed to be totally restrictive and may not prevent release of your baby in the event of vigorous movement.”

So what happens? People stuck their kids in them and put them up on tables, resulting in 3 fractured skulls.

The fix?

> [@](#):
>
> Consumers can contact Bumbo to obtain new warning label stickers and instructions, free of charge. The new warning label will state: “WARNING – Prevent Falls; Never use on any elevated surface.” Consumers should use the Bumbo seat at ground level, but should never leave a child unattended.

I’m bewildered. What sense does this make?

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**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumbo-baby-seats-safety-warning-huh/424058/2 "2007-10-26T02:00:22Z")

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Because people are stupid, and need labels to tell them what their own missing common sense doesn’t. Babies are squirmy. Do not place them in any elevated position, without supervision. There ya go-no label.

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**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumbo-baby-seats-safety-warning-huh/424058/3 "2007-10-26T02:21:33Z")

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[QUOTE=danceswithcats]  
Because people are stupid, and need labels to tell them what their own missing common sense doesn’t. Babies are squirmy. Do not place them in any elevated position, without supervision. There ya go-no label.  
[/QUOTE]  
Right, but I think the point is that there is nothing in warning label #2 that wasn’t already said in warning label #1, which was originally affixed to the back of these seats.

Weird. It makes no sense at all.

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**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bumbo-baby-seats-safety-warning-huh/424058/4 "2007-10-26T05:18:47Z")

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[QUOTE=Sarahfeena]  
Right, but I think the point is that there is nothing in warning label #2 that wasn’t already said in warning label #1, which was originally affixed to the back of these seats.

Weird. It makes no sense at all.  
[/QUOTE]

I can’t find my daugter’s bumbo right now (it’s in storage at this point, I’d imagine), but if it’s a sticker it probably comes off after a while. That may have triggered a recall where they are offering new stickers. As far as the warning itself, that thing really really holds the baby in. A baby that’s not yet walking will have a hell of a time getting out. My daughter never managed to squirm out of hers. The problem is that it probably gives people a false sense of security so they stick the baby in the bumbo up on the kitchen table while they’re are eating. Really, if you used this thing, you’d probably feel comfortable doing that. Well, if they just happen to squirm out while they’re up that high, they’ve got alot farther to fall then if it was on the floor where it belonged.