The First Years 3-in-1 Flush & Sounds Potty Recall Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to cause this recall?
Discovered during on-going product testing, results from an independent third-party testing laboratory indicated excess levels of lead in surface paint on a sample plaque. While many of the plaques conform to safety standards, testing as part of a subsequent internal investigation verified excess lead levels on plaques from three tracking codes.

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What should parents do if they have one of the recalled potty training seats?
Please do not return the recalled potty training seat. Working closely with the CPSC, RC2 determined that the potential safety issue can be readily corrected in the home with a transparent protective cover available free-of-charge from the company. The easily-applied protective cover is a permanent solution that eliminates a child's access to the plaque.

Please review the details of our December 6, 2007 recall notice, and then complete our online remedy process form to receive the protective cover. The company is making every effort to provide the protective covers to consumers as quickly as possible.

Until the protective cover arrives, consumers should keep these items away from young children when not in use. Instructions for ordering a protective cover are available on this website by clicking here or assistance is available by calling the RC2 Consumer Care Center at (866) 725-4407 toll free.

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How hazardous are these potty training seats to toddlers?
The primary concern with surface paint containing excess levels of lead arises when a child chews and swallows the paint. The plaque in this product is not removable from the back of the potty training seat without tools. While it appears highly unlikely that a child would be able to chew on the plaque, until the protective cover arrives, consumers should keep these items away from young children when not in use. Instructions for ordering a protective cover are available on this website by clicking here or assistance is available by calling the RC2 Consumer Care Center at (866) 725-4407 toll free.

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How is the protective cover affixed to the potty chair? Can a toddler get it off?
The easily-applied protective cover, which comes with an instruction sheet, is a permanent solution that provides a transparent protective cover that fits over the insert, eliminating potential contact with the surface coating. The permanent transparent protective cover uses two tabs that snap snugly into indentations on either side of the plaque. It cannot be removed without using a tool, thus preventing a toddler from removing it.

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We hear a lot about "excess levels of lead" - what does that mean?
In the United States, toys and other articles intended for use by children are required to meet a regulatory standard for lead (16 CFR, Section 1303) established by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1977. The standard requires the concentration of "total lead" in any children's product not exceed 600 parts per million (PPM). In addition, the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) has published a voluntary consensus standard (ASTM Standard F963-07) that establishes a 90-PPM maximum for what's called "soluble lead." While compliance with this standard is not obligatory, most U.S, manufacturers, including RC2, take steps to ensure that their products comply with this standard as well as with the mandatory standard for total lead.

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Will there be more recalls?
While we hope that there won't be future recalls, if the need for a recall arises, we will move quickly to take action and notify consumers, just as we have in this instance. We believe the steps we've taken improve our ability to prevent future incidents.

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I have a question that wasn't addressed here. How can I contact the company?
Contact RC2 Consumer Care Center via email at recalls@rc2corp.com or toll-free at (866) 725-4407. Our Customer Care Center is open Monday through Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm CST.

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