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Please Note: This situation has been addressed and resolved by Handi-Craft. To read the latest post, please click here.
This post is actually really serious and rather disturbing to me.
Handi-Craft is the company that produces Dr. Brown’s bottles. Taken directly from their website and I quote, “Handi-Craft Company loves to hear from parents, or parents-to-be, like you. Please contact us via email, telephone or mail. Your question or request will be addressed promptly, usually within a day or two.” Well, I emailed them my very serious concern well over a week ago and I just received my prompt reply.
Here is the EXACT email I sent Handi-Craft so that you get an idea of why I am so upset…
To Whom It May Concern:
I am a mother of two and have been using Dr. Brown’s bottles since by oldest was a baby. I currently use these bottles with my infant daughter and have been pleased with the product.
However, I am writing today with a very serious concern. My daughter is almost 12 months old and about a two months ago, I began using the Dr. Brown’s blue sippy (training) cups with her. I originally purchased these cups at Babies R Us, knowing my children met huge success with the bottles. I really liked the fact that the handles were on either side so that it was easy for my baby girl to grip and use. She seemed to be doing well with them…until one day, when I was washing one of the sippy (training) cups, I noticed a piece of the blue rubber over the mouth piece was chewed and ripped. Had she bit this covering off a little more, she would have choked. I ran and got the other sippy (training) cup she had been using to see if it had happened on that one. Sure enough, the same thing occurred.
What concerns me is that my baby girl can’t be the only one experiencing this. This should have never happened. Luckily, I caught this in time, and have since stopped using the cups. But if this product continues to be manufactured as is and placed on the market, this could potentially truly harm a baby.
The product number for the sippy (training) cups I have are: SD-121007
This matter truly requires urgent attention. I need peace of mind that this issue is being recognized by your company. I believe this information could save a life.
Sincerely,
Heather
So, there it is. I even included my website in the email, thinking that they would take me more seriously. Well, my legitimate concern was recognized in an email sent to me by customer service. Handi-Craft is replacing my training cups with a newer model that apparently has a “softer inner core within the spout,” which they said would be necessary for teething babies such as my daughter…
But, my issue here is not the spout itself! It’s the rubber that surrounds the spout that my daughter nearly chewed off!
She ended the email stating, “Handi-Craft will remain vigilant in monitoring and responding to all consumer contacts to ensure that it maintains its commitment to produce an innovative and safe product that deserves the trust of parents with infants.”
Well, here is a photo of the blue rubber (over the mouthpiece) that you can see has been chewed off by my baby girl. Now you tell me if you think this is an innovative and safe product that deserves my trust.
The cup on the left has the beginnings of the chewed rubber and the cup on the right has the rubber nearly coming off. This is the cup that I was washing when I noticed the rubber was completely coming apart.
I still have serious concerns because I truly think this product is defective. What do you think? Am I over-reacting? What’s a Theta Mom to do?
{ 80 comments… read them below or add one }
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I thought about using these sippy cups, but opted for something else. I'm glad I did!
They should really do something about it. Why do companies wait until a child actually gets hurt before they do anything to correct the problem?
Email them again including a link to this post. They need to pay attention and address this issue now.
I would email them this post and all the comments! I would be very concerned! Chocking is a life threatening issue!
I'd reply back with all of your comments, your website again and this post so they can see the pictures!! Show em, Theta mom!
I'm with you! I am sorry you are going through all that!
You are trusting your mothers intuition. That is the right thing to do. The company should totally be notified and inturn warn other parents.
I totally think you have a legitimate concern and if it were me, I would demand my money back. This is just my opinion, but I have found that certain products that all of a sudden become the "must haves" (such as Dr Browns) begin to decline in quality as popularity increases.
You did the right thing, girl, you put it out there. It sounds like a "form" letter reply from them, if you want to know the truth. You may want to send a copy of that to Babies R Us as well.
I don't think you're overreacting, but I've had similar problems w/ cups like this. I use the hard plastic ones now, w/ the hard plastic stoppers.
You are definitely not overreacting. This would have freaked me out too. The consequences could have been so dangerous.
I honestly believe that some customer service reps don't bother to read the entire emails. They just quickly scan through it and make decisions from there. Frustrating.
girlie you are not over-reacting..first im glad you posted this…you could have saved a life…hugs!!
No, you are most definitely NOT over-reacting. I would have done the same myself, but the response that you got back from them is not very reassuring… We used Dr. Brown's bottles with J… but as Z never really used the bottles, we'd given them away. I'll let my other parent friends know about this.
Thanks for sharing.
This is part of the problem with soft plastic.Even with bottles bigger babies can chew them right off.If it was me I would respond back but my phone and ask for a supervisor and express your concern .
this is very unsettling. is it ok if i reprint the letter in my blog? (of course, i'll link to YOUR page
)
Definitely NOT over reacting…..and, that same thing happened to the same sippy cups I had for my twins. I also loved the Dr. Browns bottles, NOT the sippy's. I don't like the inner stopper part either. If it isn't it just right it doesn't work properly. I'd call them and ask to speak with someone.
Absolutely unacceptable. There should be an immediate recall, but most importantly they should be ashamed of themselves.
Thanks for posting this. What an absolute safety hazard. I can't believe they didn't address it better.
I am so glad you posted about this! I have been using Dr. Brown's since my first child was born 6 years ago.
I was actually looking forward to trying their sippy cup but not anymore!
You did the right thing by contacting them. Their response is unacceptable. I intend to tell as many people has I can about this and will make it a point to inform the managers that sell them in stores I frequent!
i definitely do not think you are overreacting! that is absolutely crazy – (1) that the cups were able to do that and (2) their response. I would follow up wiht them and let them know that their original response is not satisfactory. Keep us posted (i'll be sure not to buy those cups in the meantime) – thanks for sharing w/ us!!!!!
You are most certainly not over reacting! I was going to get these for my niece, however I will definitely be skipping that purchase!
I am also following you, thanks for following me
I'm not a mom, but I don't blame you at all for being concerned and definitely don't think you're overreacting. This is a serious issue and the fact that they sent you some kind of generic email a week later….that's unsatisfactory! I'm passing this along to my girlfriends with babies!! Thank you!
I would have been upset too! Man…that's crummy of them. Of course, they probably can't really say much… because admitting to a problem could result in lawsuit.
We're all stood beside you! You should presue a better response from them!
I have never seen a tippy cup like that actually. Things are so different in the UK.
Thanks for letting us know of the issue. My son will be ready for a sippy cup in a few months and I will definitely avoid these. Is there some child safety group that monitors these thing you could also contact? I'm sure I have seen some group on the a.m. talk shows around holiday time that talks about safe and unsafe childrens' products. I wish I could remember the groups name. I hope this co. takes your concerns seriously before a child looses it's life.
Yikes I would be the same way!!! How scary, I think it's great that you sent a letter and shared with us. It's the only way we all know about things out there!
Choking hazard! You were so right in writing the company and it seems they weren't very concerned. SHAME ON THEM!!
This is INCREDIBLY disturbing!! Clearly they did not properly read your email. Have you tried calling them by phone. Also, the idea of sending photos sounds good. I bet mentioning a lawyer would get their attention!
Thanks for stopping by.
I would definitely call them. Person to person. I think that is more effective. Most companies that sell baby stuff seem to genuinely care about stuff like that.
You are not over reacting. You want the best for your kids and this isn't it.
And, when you call, I would reference this post, too, with all of the comments.
Hi Heather. Second comment I know but I have tagged you in the Name Game! Come check it out!
Oh wow! How scary! My son has a Dr.Brown sippy cup with the spout like the one in the picture, however it's not his favorite cup, so he hasn't used it often. I'll have to keep an eye on it.
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