Bungee Baby Bouncers

CPSC Recall #99-115 — May 24, 1999

Recall Summary

Recall Number99-115
Recall DateMay 24, 1999
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 4,000

Where It Was Sold

Chelsea and Scott's One Step Ahead catalogs
and baby specialty retailers in Utah and Idaho sold the bouncers from September 1998 through March 1999 for between $35 and $40.

Product

Bungee Baby Bouncers

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), E and I Inc., of Bancroft, Idaho, is recalling about 4,000 Bungee Baby Bouncers. The device allows a baby to bounce while supported in a harness or "belly band" by an elastic "bungee cord," suspended from a doorway. Knots tied in the black rope that supports the bouncer can unravel, causing the baby to fall. CPSC and E and I Inc. have received six reports of knots failing. In four of these incidents, babies bumped their heads from falls. The Bungee Baby Bouncer includes a purple harness, a clamp that attaches to the doorway frame, two wooden dowels measuring 15.5 inches and 3.875 inches long, a rope and a purple elastic bungee cord. "E and I's BUNGEE BABY BOUNCER" is written on the harness, and "BUNGEE BABY BOUNCER" is written on the doorway clamp. The product's safety precautions advise the bouncer is to be used for babies approximately 4 months old to walking age, and for babies not heavier than 25 pounds. Chelsea and Scott's One Step Ahead catalogs, and baby specialty retailers in Utah and Idaho sold the bouncers from September 1998 through March 1999 for between $35 and $40. Consumers should immediately stop using their Bungee Baby Bouncer, and return only the bungee assembly to E and I Inc. for a free repair. Consumers will be reimbursed postage charges. Consumers can send their bungee assembly to: E and I Inc., P.O. Box 66, Bancroft ID 83217-0066. For more information, consumers should call E and I Inc. at (800) 853-6001 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. MDT Monday through Friday. The metal hook that attaches to the doorway clamp can break, however, a safety cable prevents the bouncer from falling. The company also is replacing these metal hooks as part of this repair.

Hazard

Knots tied in the black rope that supports the bouncer can unravel, causing the baby to fall.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and E and I Inc. have received six reports of knots failing. In four of these incidents, babies bumped their heads from falls.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using their Bungee Baby Bouncer, and return only the bungee assembly to E and I Inc. for a free repair. Consumers will be reimbursed postage charges. Consumers can send their bungee assembly to: E and I Inc., P.O. Box 66, Bancroft ID 83217-0066.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.

Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.