Phil&teds Metoo Clip-On Chairs Pose Serious Danger to Children: U.S. CPSC

Federal regulators are warning consumers not to use some “metoo” clip-on table top child chairs sold by phil&teds, because they may put young children at a serious risk of injury. 

On May 6, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning that the clamps on some models of metoo clip-on chairs by phil&teds USA Inc. may detach from some tables and could lead to a fall or cause a child’s fingers to be crushed.

The CPSC has said that phil&teds USA Inc. has refused to cooperate with a national recall of the chairs that was acceptable to federal regulators.

The metoo clip-on chairs are infant and toddler chairs that clamp onto tables with two vice clamps. The CPSC says that the clamps will detach from a variety of surfaces. The chairs may also detach if the child moves around or pushes off of other things with his or her feet.

If the chairs detach and fall, the children inside can suffer serious impact and head injuries. Children can also get their fingers between the metal bar at the front of the chair and clamps, which can crush, pinch, lacerate or even amputate their fingers.

The CPSC said it was aware of “numerous incidents” involving the metoo clip-on chairs. The warning specifically targets the metoo models that do not have plastic spacers between the table clamps and the front horizontal metal bar.

Phil&teds has offered a repair kit for the chairs that would add two rubber boots to the clamps, but the CPSC says it has not had the chance to evaluate whether the repair kits work. The company made a statement previously that the repair kits were being released in cooperation with the CPSC, which the federal agency says is an untrue statement.

Phil&teds issued a response to the warning on the company’s website, stating that the company was surprised by the CPSC warning and said that the company has worked diligently with the CPSC to reach an acceptable recall to repair the chairs. The company said that it is only aware of two incidents with the chairs that have resulted in injury and some of the problems reported may have been caused by consumers failing to tighten the chairs properly.

The chairs have been sold through philandteds.com, Amazon.com, Buy Buy Baby, Toys R Us and other juvenile stores and online retailers since May 2006 for about $50.

The CPSC recommends that consumers stop using the metoo chairs immediately to prevent serious injury risk to children.