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?
No I do not think you are overreacting. It is a choking hazard and you should make sure that someone understands what you are talking about and not just mistakenly categorizing it as addressed since they are addressing another similar concern on that model.
If it could save a life, then you should do your best to either get a satisfactory response from the company, or alert others to the potential danger.
You are not over reacting a bit. I hope they respond to you! Clearly, choking hazards are amongst the primary concerns for parents of little ones. Please keep us updated.
On a lighter note, I am having an Awards Party. Get your dancing shoes on and come over because I have two for you.
We have had the same problems here in England, but in this case it was babies soothers that were just disintegrating when babies were sucking on them for too long. The reason that was given, was that they had changed to using silicone instead of rubber, so it was just falling apart after a while. The advice that Mothers were given was not to wash them in hot water!
This is something that really needs to be looked into further! Good for you for complaining to the makers!
My son did the same thing to the one I got for him ! So now I get him the hard spout ones and he still has teeth marks digging into them ! Let us know what you hear back from them ,if and when you do .
Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry Heather. Maybe you should email them again with the photos. They need to understand the severity, and pictures speak louder than words.
You are not over-reacting. Thanks for sharing. I am going to post this on Facebook and Tweet it. Other mothers need to know as well. I don't like rubber or plastic to begin with, so well put my friend.
You concern is 110% valid. Their reply shows no empathy and is not saitsfactory at all.
The product should be recalled point blank.
Um, yes….not a good design at all!! My boys would have eaten all of the blue. Can we say toxic choking hazard!
I'd reply back. I wouldn't be satisfied with their response at all.
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I like a lady that won't take any bullsh*t! Good for you for sending them that e-mail. I would send the pictures too so that they know exactly how bad of a hazard it is.
Blow the whistle on em' honey!
XO
Leigh
I would have done the same thing. That is crazy. I would not buy this product. I used the "NUK" cup when my little one first started. It is like rubber but does not come apart either. Thanks for your nice comments yesterday. Have a great Sunday.
No, you're not overreacting. Maybe you should call them directly and ask to speak to a customer service manager. I always ask for someone higher up if I don't like the response I've gotten.
Linked back to you on my blog.
I think Jasmine has a good idea there – sending them the pictures.
Keep us updated!
holy crap! you're def. not overreacting!! the way my kids chew on things, they would have had that lid devoured! they should be pulling the product off the shelves…does a child have to die to get some action?! disgusting!
You are not over reacting. Other moms need to know that too. I wonder what you hear back from them. Please keep us updated.
Thanks for sharing Heather!
I would write them back, including the letter and pictures you have sent to the Attorney Generals office..
Idiot company
Not overreacting at all. How scary… Baby Bub will NOT be using these!
I don't think you are overreacting one bit! They need to pull those off the market! THIS MINUTE. Not next week. You should take it to the media (our local news has a reporter just for that) check out your news station.. get it out there if NO ONE ELSE WILL.
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Sheila
Oh my gosh…that is unbelievable. You are certainly not over-reacting. You are probably saving lives. I would send them the pictures. What in the world are they thinking?
Holy Crap! Imagine if she swallowed that! Gives me the chills looking at that. I don't think that is very safe at all. I wouldn't be using that product. I think you have every right to be concerned.
OMGoodness!! You are not overeacting at all!!! She could have really gotten hurt with that!
You are DEFINITELY NOT overreacting – thankfully you discovered in time. Clearly this company needs to step up regarding this product.
Wow! You are not over-reacting at all and their response is not good enough. I would write back again. From the photos it looks like it should be re-called. Of course is a huge hassle for them, which is probably why they are trying to blow it off. Cups made for the teething age need to be safer than that!
You are not overreacting at all! How dangerous for the little ones. They have to take your complaint seriously ASAP.
I have had the whole 911/ER choking experience, so no, I do not think you are overreacting at all. I am a little upset with these companies that act like it is no big deal. One of my son's fisher price toys had a magnet piece fall off, and they said just to return it! Uh, okay but what about all the other families? If you feel really strongly about it, send the pictures along with another email, along with the link with this post. And try to send it to someone higher up than her.
Reading this post gave me chills. And not the good kind. You are NOT overreacting!
Seriously–the mouthpieces are nearly chewed off and I shudder thinking that someone's little one can potentially choke on one.
And I can't believe they were so carefree about this! I'm wondering if you could reach out to someone higher in the company. Customer service obviously blew you off.
Thank you for the wake up call! I will not be purchasing these cups for Madelyn, that's for sure!
I think that is very serious. Sounds like it should be recalled.
i did not like their reply at all.
i hope your open letter here brings attention to the cause.
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I am glad that you shared this with other moms to spread the word. IT is a hazzard that needs to be corrected.
You are not overreacting and it is concerning. It sounds like they've just tried to pacify you without actually addressing your concerns.
I'd be very upset to see something like that. You can never be too careful with the lives of your children.
You are not overreacting and I think that product needs to be taken off the market.
I certainly don't think you're overreacting! This would infuriate me! They need to recall this product ASAP!
Have you tried reaching out to Babies R Us to see if they can get the cups off the shelf?
I don't think you are overreacting and I think their customers deserve a better email than just a standard template email. Thanks for posting this and bringing it to my attention because Andrew was drinking from his exact same sippy cup this morning. I will definitely keep an eye out!
Heather, I do not think you over-reacted at all…i sure hope that you will take this further and hopefully the company will realize there is a potential here for major trouble! Not only is this a choking issue, but toxic too!
wow! not over reacting at all!! i would definitly continue to send them emails or calls with your concerns…you may even take it a step farther and contact someone with more 'power' per se.
Disappointing. I really like their bottles, but wouldn't try cups that do this. Hopefully this will be corrected in how they manufacture their cups.
Did you send them the pics?
No, you're not over reacting, as a matter of fact, you've handled this quite calmly! I would have said hell with the email and went right to the phone!
Wait until you get the new spout. It may have a newer material that is safer rather than the rubber.
If it's not, then you can tell them they missed the boat again.
Remember, a mother's instinct is usually right on. If you feel it's not safe, then it probably isn't.
You have every right to be concerned and I think that their response was a bit generic. Keep us posted about anything that follows this. Good for you letting them know (and letting the rest of us know as well)!!
I would have done the exact same thing sister! My kids were doing the same thing with those same sippies and I tossed them. I went back to the BPA free ones and ones without the gummy sippy part.
You are not overreacting, and I think it is fabulous that you wrote them a letter, but I would take it a step further. Contact either the BBB or even who ever it is that approves these things…some government agency overlooks this type of product. This cup should be recalled!!
AHHH! SCARY! I think it's really dumb they sent you a replacement "for babies who are teething like yours". Um, aren't all babies getting teeth, or at least seriously chewing on EVERYTHING during the time they start using a sippy? Do they know how many people read your blog???
I would say none of us will be buying these any time soon…
Holy cow! I can't believe that! You are not over reacting! Did you email the pictures? I would send a reply back to their email with the pictures and tell them again they should recall or you are contacting a lawyer. Good luck!
This is most definitely a very serious issue and I don't think you're overreacting at all. Their response was hardly comforting or progressive. I'd definitely keep emailing and include these pictures if you haven't already. Maybe a phone call is in order instead. I hope they wisen up and get this issue fixed sooner rather then later! Keep us posted!
PS. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
What the hell Dr. Brown? You should write a post with a link to their email and ask us to all write a little blurb about your post and how we ALL think they need to do more about this situation.
I always used Avent and Playtex cups so I have no first hand experience with these cups. Now I can honestly say I never will! Thanks for the heads up!
Yikes! I would be switching sippy cups!
You are not overreacting! That is scary and that is a true concern… I would be worried, too. I'm surprised there has not been a recall because of his… I hope if anyone else is reading this with those cups, they'll have a look at theirs, too, if they have those cups, to see if they have the same problem… them sending you the 'new' cups is not a good enough answer to me, really.. good luck… keep up posted…
Heather I say call them and talk with someone higher up! Your letter was so well written and deserves to be taken seriously. Thank goodness you saw it! Here are their numbers. Maybe we should all call them. 1-800-778-9001 or 314-773-2979 You Go Girl!!
You're not over-reacting. The EXACT same thing happened to the one I bought for my son. I wish I had taken a picture of mine before I threw it out because it was just as bad. I hope they fix this problem soon.
Just awful. Email them again with a link to your post. Maybe if they know you're blogging about it and raising awareness (and getting so many comments on the issue), they'll be more apt to act. Keep pursuing it!