Children's Chair
CPSC Recall #96-172 — July 24, 1996
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 96-172 |
| Recall Date | July 24, 1996 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | 20,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Department stores sold the chairs with matching ottomans and sofas nationwide from January 1994 through June 1996 for approximately $50. |
Product
Children's Chair
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Now Products of Cicero, Ill., is announcing a recall to home repair approximately 20,000 foam chairs for children. Children can unzip the chair's fabric cover, exposing a thin, clear plastic liner, which could cause choking. Now Products is aware of two incidents of children who removed the plastic from the furniture and placed the plastic in their mouth. One child required medical treatment. The foam chairs measure 11 inches high, 11 inches wide, and 15.5 inches deep. The chair's fabric cover features pictures of animals and children's drawings. A white label which reads in part, "NOW PRODUCTS INC." and a zipper are located on the bottom of the chair. Department stores sold the chairs with matching ottomans and sofas nationwide from January 1994 through June 1996 for approximately $50. Consumers should take the chairs away from children until the chairs have been repaired. For a free repair kit, consumers should call Now Products at (800) 535-3218, extension 33, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday.
Hazard
Children can unzip the chair's fabric cover, exposing a thin, clear plastic liner, which could cause choking.
Incidents & Injuries
Now Products is aware of two incidents of children who removed the plastic from the furniture and placed the plastic in their mouth. One child required medical treatment.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should take the chairs away from children until the chairs have been repaired. For a free repair kit, consumers should call Now Products at (800) 535-3218, extension 33, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday.
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.
Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside — if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.
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.