Evenflo Embrace recall: What you need to know now

On May 10th, a joint press release from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the recall of about 450,000 Evenflo Embrace infant car/seat carriers. When used as an infant carrier, the handle can unexpectedly release, causing the seat to rotate forward and the infant inside to potentially fall to the ground. Evenflo received 679 reports of handles on the Embrace unexpectedly releasing, resulting in160 injuries to babies. The reports include a skull fracture, two concussions, cuts, scrapes, and bruises.

The recall involves Evenflo Embrace models made before April 8, 2006. The recalled seats have model numbers beginning with 317, 320, 397, 398, 540, 549, 550, 556, 597, 598, or 559. The model number and manufacturing date information can be found on the bottom of the seat and on top of the detachable base.

If you own one of the recalled infant seats, contact Evenflo at 800-490-7497 or at EmbraceHandle.com to receive a free repair kit that strengthens the handle latch. The product can continue to be used safely as a car seat, but you should leave it secured in the car and not use it as a carrier until you’ve made the repair. And always make sure the baby is secured by the seat’s harness while in use.