Why this mom Restrains her Children

This mom restrains her children. I do it proudly and I do it all the time.

Before I even had the girls, I signed up for instant alerts from CPSC. One went out earlier today, recalling Evenflo highchairs due to a “fall hazard”. I do not have an Evenflo highchair, but I clicked on the link out of morbid curiosity.

Here’s what it said:

“Evenflo Recalls Convertible High Chairs Due to Fall Hazard”

Oh no, that sucks, tell me more!

“The activity tray on the high chair can unexpectedly detach and allow an unrestrained child to fall, posing a risk of injury to the child.”

Wait a second…wha?

“The activity tray on the high chair can unexpectedly detach and allow an unrestrained child to fall, posing a risk of injury to the child.”

My first thought was, “Do people really not know that if you fail to restrain your child in their high chair, it’s a fall hazard?”

While that may seem like a no-brainer to some, it wasn’t to the parents of the eight children who fell (thankfully all were ok!).

Instead of judging those parents, I can relate. In an extremely frazzled state, it can be easy to overlook something so simple. But that’s why it’s extra important to check every. single. time.

Exhibit A

Behold, little M at 5-months-old, after I put her in the baby swing, forgot the restraints, and left the room. Two minutes later I returned to this.

I was lucky that the time I forgot to restrain my child she was in a swing that was 2 inches off the ground and was non-mobile. I am thankful that my single-twin-mombie brain attacked on this occasion and not when she was in a highchair.

Common sense…now I have it!
And I’m sure the parents of the 8 children who fell do now, too. I hope.

Anywho, I must say that as much as it feels good to stick it to the man, I do feel bad for companies that are forced to recall a product when the problem was caused by consumer misuse. Directions to any highchair are pretty clear–never EVER leave your child in the seat unrestrained.

Granted, Evenflo’s product did have a problem, being that the tray could detach. But still. If the parents/caregivers had restrained the children, the 8 that fell never would have.

So…restrain your children!

  This post was originally published in 2011