February 19, 2026 — An incident involving a 9-month-old child and a Smart Steps Bounce N Play 3-in-1 Activity Center has been reported. The child’s mother intervened after a flexible toy bar became wrapped around the child’s neck, preventing a potential strangulation.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On January 29, 2026, an incident occurred involving a 9-month-old boy and the Smart Steps Bounce N Play 3-in-1 Activity Center. According to the report, the infant was standing in the activity center when the flexible bar on the toy was around his neck. The child’s mother stated, “Luckily I was in the same room as him and caught it quickly or he could have been strangled to death.”
Safety Concerns
This incident highlights safety concerns associated with the design and use of the Smart Steps Bounce N Play 3-in-1 Activity Center, particularly its flexible toy bar:
- Immediate Dangers: Strangulation: The primary and most severe risk is strangulation by entanglement with flexible components that can form a loop around a child’s neck. Infants lack the motor skills and cognitive ability to free themselves from such entrapments, making even brief moments unsupervised hazardous.
- Long-Term Risks: If strangulation were to occur, even for a short duration, it could lead to oxygen deprivation to the brain, potentially causing severe and irreversible brain damage, developmental delays, or death.
- Who Might Be Affected: Infants and young toddlers, typically those who are at the stage of standing and interacting with activity centers, are most at risk. Their movements and exploration can inadvertently lead to entanglement with flexible parts.
- Property damage potential: No property damage was reported in this incident.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own a Smart Steps Bounce N Play 3-in-1 Activity Center, particularly model AC01F36C, should take immediate action:
- Stop Use Immediately: Discontinue the use of the activity center, especially if it features flexible toy bars that could pose a strangulation risk. If the toy bar is detachable, remove it and store it away from children.
- Inspect Your Product: Carefully examine all components of your Smart Steps Bounce N Play 3-in-1 Activity Center for any flexible parts, cords, or loops that could potentially wrap around a child’s neck.
- Constant Supervision: Even with products deemed safe, always maintain direct and vigilant supervision of infants and young children in activity centers, bouncers, and playpens. Never leave a child unattended, even for a moment.
- Report Incidents: If you or someone you know has experienced a similar incident or has concerns about the safety of this product or any other consumer product, it is crucial to report it to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.CPSC.gov. Your report helps identify hazardous products and can prevent future injuries.
Manufacturer’s Response
No manufacturer response has been provided in the incident report.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process. Farzan Law is a California based Personal Injury law firm focusing on protecting the rights of those wrongfully injured.
Licensed to practice law ONLY in California.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.