The First Years Newborn-to-Toddler Reclining Feeding Seat Recall Frequently Asked Questions

What is being recalled by RC2?
RC2 is voluntarily recalling three styles of The First Years Newborn-to-Toddler Reclining Feeding Seat due to malfunctioning restraining straps that can disengage and permit the child to slip out of the seat. Approximately 100,000 reclining feeding seats were manufactured between November 8, 2006 and May 10, 2007 and distributed through mass and specialty retailers in the U.S. and another 25,000 were distributed in Canada. Parents and caregivers are advised to immediately stop using the seat. Parents and caregivers should immediately stop using the feeding seats RC2 received 38 complaints of malfunctioning restraining straps, including 12 instances of children falling from the seats. None of the falls produced injuries that required medical attention.

There is no need to return the feeding seat to the company. Working closely with the CPSC, RC2 has determined that the malfunctioning restraining strap can be easily replaced in the home, using a replacement strap provided free of charge by the company. Print and video instructions for ordering and replacing the strap are available by clicking here, or by calling the RC2 Consumer Care Center at (866) 725-4407 toll free.

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What happened to cause this recall?
The reclining feeding seats have restraining straps that fit through slots on the bottom portion of the seat back. Despite extensive testing, it appears that the affected seats have slots that are too wide, which may cause the restraining straps to disengage from the seat back and could permit the child to slip out of the seat. The reclining feeding seats have since been redesigned with narrower slots for the straps.

Only reclining feeding seats purchased after November 8, 2006 are affected by the recall. The three styles included in the recall vary only color and seat-pad decoration. To determine whether a feeding seat is subject to the recall, please check the back of the seat and look for the following information:

Unaffected Product:

  • Products that have an "R" on the back of the seat back as shown are not affected.
  • Products with a distance between the waist strap slots on the seatback of approximately 9" are not affected
Affected Product:
  • Products that do not have an "R" on the back of the seat back as shown are part of the recall.
  • Only those feeding seats with no R in the raised circle and approximately 6" inches between the waist strap slots are subject to the recall.

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Were there any injuries related to the feeding seat issue? If so, what was the nature of the injuries?
Parents and caregivers should immediately stop using the feeding seats RC2 received 38 complaints of malfunctioning restraining straps, including 12 instances of children falling from the seats. None of the falls produced injuries that required medical attention.

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What should consumers do if they have one of the recalled feeding seats?
Parents and caregivers should immediately stop using an affected feeding seat. Working closely with the CPSC, RC2 has determined that the malfunctioning restraining strap can be easily replaced in the home, using a replacement strap provided free of charge by the company. Print and video instructions for ordering and replacing the strap are available clicking here, or by calling the RC2 Consumer Care Center at (866) 725-4407 toll free.

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Will the replacement restraining strap be a permanent solution and fix the seat?
Yes. The replacement restraining strap permanently corrects the problem.

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How is the replacement strap affixed to the feeding seat? Can a toddler get it off?
The replacement restraining strap comes with easy-to-understand instructions for threading it through the seat properly. A toddler will not be able to remove it.

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Will there be more recalls?
While we hope that there won't be future recalls, if the need for a recall arises, we will move quickly to take action and notify consumers, just as we have in this instance. We believe the steps we've taken improve our ability to prevent future incidents.

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I have a question that wasn't addressed here. How can I contact the company?
Contact RC2 Consumer Care Center via email at recalls@rc2corp.com or toll-free at (866) 725-4407. Our Customer Care Center is open Monday through Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm CST.

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