Summer Infant Bath Tub Recall: Fall and Drowning Hazard

About 86,000 battery-operated whirlpool baby baths are being recalled, following nearly 100 consumer complaints that suggest the fabric safety slings may detach from the tub while in use, posing a drowning risk and fall hazard. 

The Lil’ Luxuries Whirlpool, Bubbling Spa & Shower infant bath recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on October 6, after the manufacturer received at least 91 reports of problems with the safety slings, which have resulted in at least 11 head injuries from falls.

The recalled baby bath tubs are designed to bathe infants from birth to two years old, by setting the child in a fabric sling that is suspended from a white plastic frame around the top of the tub.

The recall was initiated after reports of the slings detaching from the plastic attachment frame, allowing the child to fall into the side walls of the tub and underwater. Further analysis of the fall incidents found the headrest area of the fabric sling did not contain a white plastic attachment clip to balance and hold infants upright, posing a tip-over hazard.

The CPSC is asking customers to stop using the safety sling feature of the tubs immediately, as use of the sling could cause serious head trauma or cause an infant to drown if the safety sling detaches.

The recall includes Lil’ Luxuries Whirlpool, Bubbling Spa & Showers with fabric slings that have whirlpool and motorized jet features that are battery-operated. The recalled products are marked with item numbers 18840, 18850, 18863, and 18873 and date codes starting with 1210, 1211, 1212, 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, 1307, and 1308 representing the two-digit year followed by the two-digit month.

According to the CPSC recall notice, about 86,000 units were distributed for sale throughout the United States. Customers are being warned by the agency and Summer Infant that the recalled tub products could have been sold and may still be for sale on second hand markets.

The recalled infant tubs were manufactured in China under Summer Infant Inc., of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. They were sold at Toys R Us, Babies R Us and other juvenile product specialty stores nationwide from October 2012 through October 2013 for around $60.

Customers are being asked to stop using the safety slings immediately and contact Summer Infant at 844-666612-4254 or visit them online at www.summerinfant.com and navigate to the ‘safety Alerts & Recalls” tab for information on how to receive a free replacement fabric sling with attachment clips.