Consumer groups, including KID, applaud the first new mandatory standard -- bath seats

As we mentioned in our earlier post, CPSC voted 5-0 to publish the first mandatory standard required by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Consumer groups applauded the action, while still noting the particular dangers of bath seats, in a release yesterday. Read the statement here at Consumer Federation of America's website.

Baby bath seats to get tough new standard

In her book, It's No Accident: How Corporations Sell Dangerous Baby Products, Author E. Marla Felcher says of bath seats, "never use a ..baby bathseat/ring; there is no situation where using one is safe. In her chapter on the shortcomings of voluntary standards she says, "Bath seats .. illustrate just how inadequate the industry's voluntary standard setting process can be."

A quick look at retailers show very few are still selling the product -- switching instead to baby tubs which can better control the amount of water and movement of a baby. And that's a good thing. Amelia was one of the lucky ones. Her mother, who had stood for a minute to drop something in the sink, turned back to see her daughter underwater. She was able to pull her out of the water and avert a tragedy. Hundreds are not so lucky. As of November 2009, CPSC shows 179 deaths since 1983 (and most are from 1990 or so forward).

Now, 10 years later, CPSC has approved (5-0) a mandatory bath seat standard that will eliminate the product as it was designed when Felcher wrote of the dangers of the product. On Wednesday, the full commission voted to publish a new mandatory bath seat standard, the first final standard published as required by the Danny Keysar section of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.

KID has always recommended against the use of bath seats and continues that recommendation -- even if a bath seat could meet the new standard (there doesn't appear to be one now that meets it). It simply makes it too likely that a baby will be left unattended in a dangerous setting, water! Whatever your bathing solution for your little one, always keep one hand on the baby and stay within arms reach of toddlers in the tub.

Bathtubs, Bathseats, Buckets are Biggest Drowning Danger

As summer comes to an end and outdoor pools become a memory, parents and caregivers tend to put the fear of a drowning accident to the back of their mind. CPSC reminds families that drowning is not simply a seasonal concern. "For 2003-2005, CPSC staff received reports of an average of 90 children younger than 5 years of age drowned in bathtubs (62%), baby seats or bathinettes (15%), buckets and pails (11%), landscaping or yard products (6%) and other products (4%)."

The full article, CPSC Warns of In-Home Drowning Dangers with Bathtubs, Bathseats, Buckets reminds parents the importance of water safety and goes over key preventative measures to ensure children's security. Simple, yet important tips like never leaving your child alone near water and keeping your child within arm's reach when in a bathtub are outlined. Reminders are also given-- children do not need to be submerged in water to drown! While the CPSC report contains information about baby bath seats, KID recommends against their use because of the increased likelihood that a baby will be left alone in a tub with the device.

Recalled water products may increase the likelihood of an accident. Being aware of any recently recalled items and following the Consumer Product Safety Commission's bath safety guidelines will help families to be safe and at ease all year round.