Highchairs recalled due to injury risk

By Julie Vallese
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- About 325,000 highchairs made by Peg Perego USA Inc. are being recalled because of the potential risk of suffocation or injury to a baby's head when a chair is in its recline mode.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Tuesday the Fort Wayne, Indiana-based company is voluntarily recalling three highchair models.

"The company has cooperated very well with us in doing this recall," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "This is the way we like to work with a company to prevent very serious injuries before they happen."

The recalled chairs are the "Prima Pappa," "Roller," and "Martinelli Pappa and Nanna" models. All model names are located on the footrest or the seat back. "Peg Perego" and "Italy" can be found on a brace connecting the front leg to the back leg.

RESOURCES For more information about the recall, go to www.pegperego.com  or call Peg Perego at 877-737-3464

The seats can be raised, lowered or tilted back. When the seat is reclined, there is a gap between the armrest and the backrest, the CPSC said. A child's head can become trapped posing the risk of entrapment or suffocation.

There have been 51 reports of children becoming trapped between the space. All injuries were minor scratches, the CPSC said.

"There shouldn't be cuts and scratches and bruises," said Brown. "However, very serious head entrapment is what we are most concerned about. That a baby should get trapped there, that hasn't happened yet and we want to make sure it doesn't happen."

The chairs were sold from June 1996 through October 1999. They were sold at Babies "R" Us and other children stores for about $180.

The CPSC says parents should stop using the chairs immediately. Peg Perego is offering free replacement armrests to fix the defect. Consumers can contact Peg Perego at 877-737-3464 or log on to www. perego.com to order the a set of armrests.