CPSC, Dorel Juvenile Group Issue Alert on Safety 1st Tubside Bath Seats

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dorel Juvenile Group, of Columbus, Ind., announced a warning today for parents and caregivers who purchased the Safety 1^st Tubside Bath Seats. The company has sold about 250,000 units to date. The bath seats are not intended and should not be used with certain non-traditional or sunken bathtubs. In these types of tubs, the bath seat can break, tip over and a child can fall into the water.

Dorel Juvenile Group has received nine reports of breakage due to use of Tubside Bath Seats in non-traditional or sunken bathtubs. An additional 67 reports of breakage due to handling, assembly and unknown reasons also were received. There was one report of a child bumping his forehead when a bath seat tipped over in a non-traditional tub, resulting in a bruise.

These Safety 1^st Tubside Bath Seats have model number 44301 engraved on the bottom of the base. "Safety 1^st" is printed on the front of the units. They are white and blue, have a swivel seat and an elbow cushion on the attachment arm. These seats are intended for use with children from 5 months to 10 months of age.

Consumers are urged to ensure that these bath seats are used in accordance with the instructions:

This product is NOT for use with the following style tubs:

Discount department and other mass merchants sold these bath seats from December 2003 through August 2004 for about $20.

Consumers who have a Tubside Bath Seat should check the dimension of their tubs. If they have a non-traditional or sunken bathtub outside the specified dimensions, or have a broken unit the consumer should immediately stop using the Tubside Bath Seat and contact the firm for information on how to get a $20 rebate toward the purchase of any other Dorel Juvenile Group product. Consumers should not return product to retail stores.

For more information, contact Dorel Juvenile Group at (888) 698-6681 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site at www.safety1st.com

Safety 1^st Tubside Bath Seat

Safety 1^st Tubside Bath Seats should not be used in the following types of tubs

Free standing (Claw Foot/Pedestal)

Drop-In

Oval

Spa Type/Jacuzzi

-  Tubs with edge width less than 3 1/2 inches or greater than 5 1/2 inches.

-  Tubs with depth (top to bottom) less than 12 inches or greater than 15 inches.

-  Free standing (legged or pedestal), oval, drop-in, or spa type tubs

-  DO NOT use the bath seat if the Red Warning Label on the arm is exposed.

-  ALWAYS keep child within arm's reach. Children have drowned when left unattended in bath seats.