Baby seats recalled after 28 head injury reports

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- About 1 million baby seats sold at major U.S. retailers are being recalled after the Consumer Product Safety Commission received 28 reports of serious head injuries, including three skull fractures, after young children fell out of the seats when they were placed on tables.

Improper use of the Bumbo Baby Sitter Seats, manufactured by South African company Bumbo International, could lead to serious head injuries if placed on any elevated surface. Young children could arch their backs, flip out of the seat and fall onto the floor, the agency warned Thursday.

If placed on an elevated surface, young children could arch their backs and flip out of the Bumbo Baby Sitter Seat causing serious head injuries.

The seats were sold at Target (Charts, Fortune 500), Wal-Mart (Charts, Fortune 500), Sears (Charts, Fortune 500), Kmart, Toys 'R' Us, Babies 'R' Us, USA Babies and other toy and children's stores nationwide and online from August 2003 through October 2007 for about $40.

The bottom of the molded foam children's seat is round and flat with a diameter of about 15 inches and comes in yellow, blue, purple, pink, aqua and lime green. The seat has leg holes and a seat back that wraps completely around the child. The front of the seat reads "Bumbo" in raised lettering with the image of an elephant on top.

The bottom of the seat has a warning label that reads: "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."

The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that consumers should never use the infant seat on a table, countertop, chair or other elevated surface.

Consumers can contact Bumbo to obtain new warning label stickers and instructions at (877) 932-8626. The agency also says consumers should use the Bumbo seat at ground level but should never leave a child unattended.