Graco Classic Wood Highchairs recalled due to detaching seats

A safety warning for nearly 90,000 Graco Classic Wood Highchairs has been issued by U.S. and Canadian safety agencies today. The high chairs from Graco have seats that may become detached from the wooden base and present a fall hazard to infants, says the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Consumer Reports' experts test dozens of models of baby high chairs every year. As part of its evaluation for inclusion into our High chair Ratings (available to subscribers), testers check if they meet the voluntary safety standards of ASTM International (formerly American Society for Testing and Materials).

But since these standards are not mandatory, our experts say consumers shopping for a baby high chair should "Push contenders around to see how well they hold their ground. A chair should feel stable and sturdy, not wobbly. Look for a high chair with a wide base for stability." (For more shopping and safety tips, read Consumer Reports' free buying guide to baby high chairs.)

Graco has received 58 reports of seats loosening or detaching from the base of its Classic Wood Highchairs. Nine incidents of children falling as the seat detached from the base have been reported, including one report of an infant receiving a concussion in Canada.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled high chairs and contact Graco (toll-free: 800-345-4109, website: Www.gracoBaby.com) for a free repair kit.

The recall affects all Graco brand Classic Wood Highchairs with model numbers 3C00BPN, 3C00BPN TC, 3C00CHY, 3C00CHY TC, 3C00CPO or 3C00CPO TC printed on a label on the underside of the seat assembly.

The Graco high chairs were sold at Babies R Us, Burlington Coat Factory and other retail stores nationwide and at Target.com and Walmart.com and other online retailers between September 2007 and December 2010 for about $130.

Sources:
Graco Recalls Classic Wood Highchairs Due to Fall Hazard [CPSC]
Recall: Graco Classic Wood Highchair [Health Canada]
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