In an effort to reduce the number of incidents and subsequent injuries related to falls, attachment/restraint issues, latch/lock failures, tray issues, and other common seat-related design problems often experienced with booster seats, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has approved new federal safety standards with a unanimous vote of four to zero. These new standards are being introduced in an effort to ensure that all booster seats are designed with the child’s safety in mind and that parents/consumers are always aware of the proper use of each product. The new federal safety standards are only relevant to booster seats used for height adjustment in restaurants, homes, and other stagnant locations and do not refer to booster seats used in any type of vehicle. However, these new federal safety standards are designed to help keep your children safe, and are a thoughtfully direct response to the total of 912 tragic accidents involving booster seats over the last decade, including numerous head injuries and two fatalities. The new and approved federal safety standards for booster seats are as follows:
- “The retail package of the booster seat must indicate the minimum dimensions of the adult chair on which the booster seat will fit.”
- “All booster seats must have an active means of attaching to an adult chair, in order to prevent booster seats and children from falling off the adult chair.”
- “Warnings on the booster seat must remind consumers to make sure the booster seat is securely fastened to the adult chair before each use.”
- “To prevent falls, consumers are also warned to stop children from pushing away from the table while in the booster seat.”
These new regulations will apply to all booster seats products both manufactured and imported, and will make the sale of all booster seats that do not comply with these new regulations illegal in the United States. As retailers and manufacturers worry about the design and packaging of these items, it is still up to you, the consumer, to make sure that every product you purchase for your children is thoroughly inspected for damage before every use and always used properly. Neglecting to follow the provided safety instructions of any product intended for infants or children may result in dangerous or even fatal consequences. As the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission continues to do its part to help keep your little ones safe, remember to do your part by staying informed and aware at all times.
If you or someone you know has been involved in consumer-related injury and require a professional attorney to assist you in a case, call us at 1.877.732.2491 or complete our free case review form in the sidebar to receive a prompt response from our one of our knowledgeable staff or attorneys.