CPSC, Safety 1st Announce Recall of Fold-Up Booster Seats

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Safety 1st, of Canton, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 1.5 million Fold-Up Booster Seats, intended for children who can sit unassisted through about 4 years of age. The top half of the seat inserts can separate, and a child can fall from the chair and be injured.

CPSC and Safety 1st have received 32 reports where the seat halves separated. There were seven reports of injuries from falls including bumps, cuts, bruises and a fractured arm.

Only Safety 1st Fold-Up Booster Seats with model numbers 173, 173A and 173B are included in this recall. Booster seats with model numbers 173Cand 173D, which have four indentations on the bottom, are not included in this recall. The model number is located on the back of the booster seat, inside the left arm panel. The booster seat is made of blue plastic with green and red arms and includes a yellow feeding tray. The seat insert for the booster seat is made up of two halves that are "press-fitted" together. They have a smooth surface bottom, with no indentations. The booster seats have a restraint system made up of a two-piece waist strap and one crotch strap. "SAFETY 1ST" is molded on the top and bottom of the seat insert.

Major toy, hardware and department stores nationwide sold these seats from January 1994 through August 1999 for about $18. Consumers should stop using these seats immediately and contact Safety 1st to receive a free repair kit with instructions. Consumers can contact Safety 1st at (888) 579-1730 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or go to the firm's web site at www.safety1st.com.

#173, #173A, #173B bottom of seat insert - smooth, flat surface