On November 4, 2010, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and Britax Child Safety Inc. announced a voluntary recall of the Chaperone Infant Car Seat. According to the recall, approximately 23,000 of these units have been imported into the United States from China. These units were sold at retailers nationwide and on the Britax website from June 2009 to October 2010 for about $230. This product was also recalled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The basis for the recall is the risk of injury to children riding in the car seat. According to the recall, the harness chest clip can break and poses a laceration hazard. Due to the small size of the harness chest clip, it can also pose a choking hazard to small children. At this time, there are at least four reports of the chest clip breaking. Three of these reports included minor lacerations and scratches to the child’s arm and finger, and one of the reports involved an infant placing the defective clip in his mouth.
The recall specifically involves Chaperone Infant Car Seats with model numbers E9L95P2 (Red Mill), E9L95P3, E9L95P5 (Cowmooflage), and E9L69N9 (Moonstone) manufactured between April 2009 and May 2010. On the underside of the car seat, you can find the seat’s serial number, model number, and manufacture date on the white serial label. Consumers that have any of the recalled products should stop using them immediately and contact Britax for a free repair kit, which includes a replacement chest clip.