Parents Sue Bugaboo Over Dangerous Highchair Defect

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims Bugaboo’s Giraffe highchairs have a defect that allows the front legs to detach, causing collapses and injuries.

Consumers Affected: U.S. buyers of Bugaboo Giraffe highchairs sold since 2023.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Bugaboo, a brand known for its sleek and pricey baby gear, sells Giraffe highchairs that pose a serious risk to small children, a new lawsuit claims. 

The lawsuit alleges the chairs have a defect that allows their front legs to detach, sending strapped-in kids tumbling forward. The chairs have been the subject of a recall and parents allege in the lawsuit that the company has known about the issue for months but failed to provide a real fix.

Parent Says Bugaboo Highchair Collapsed With Child Still Strapped In

The case was brought by Pennsylvania resident Ryan Sturtz, who bought a Bugaboo Giraffe highchair for $359 in June 2023. Six months later, his young son was sitting in the chair when the front legs suddenly detached. The child wasn’t badly injured but was shaken, and the incident made using highchairs a struggle for the family, the lawsuit claims.

Sturtz contacted Bugaboo for help and was initially offered replacement parts, then later a repair kit. When he requested a refund after learning about a broader recall, the company refused, providing only another chair with the same defect. According to the lawsuit, Bugaboo’s response left Sturtz and other parents without a safe, lasting solution.

Lawsuit Claims Design Flaw Causes Front Legs to Detach and Collapse

The case alleges the highchairs have an innate design flaw: screws holding the front legs can loosen or fall out, especially when children press against the footrest. The result is a dangerous forward collapse, even when the highchair is placed securely in the middle of a room, it argues.

Bugaboo markets the Giraffe as a high-quality, long-lasting product, emphasizing safety and durability. Priced at over $400, the chairs were sold in major retailers like Nordstrom and on Amazon. 

But reports to the Consumer Product Safety Commission described falls, cuts, bruises, and even ambulance dispatches. By June 2025, about 18,000 units were recalled in the U.S. after at least 22 incidents, including 13 injuries, according to the lawsuit.

Bugaboo has provided repair kits with sturdier screws and a better Allen key, but the lawsuit argues these are inadequate and shift the blame onto consumers for assembly errors, when the real issue lies in the design.

Other Baby Product Makers Face Similar Safety Lawsuits

Bugaboo isn’t the only brand under fire for children’s product safety. UPPAbaby faces claims that its car seats force babies into unsafe positions that can restrict breathing. 

Dorel Juvenile Group is being sued over a recalled Safety 1st car seat with a choking hazard. Nuna, Fisher-Price, and Mattel are also battling lawsuits over alleged defects in swings, car seats, and other baby gear.

Sturtz’s lawsuit aims to represent all U.S. consumers who purchased Bugaboo highchairs. He accuses the company of negligence, unjust enrichment, and breach of warranty. In plain terms, he’s asking for refunds and compensation, arguing Bugaboo profited from selling unsafe products and left families footing the bill for defective chairs.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Sturtz v. Bugaboo North America, Inc.
• Case Number: 1:25-cv-05688
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York 

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Michael M. Weinkowitz, Daniel C. Levin, and Nicholas J. Elia (Levin Sedran & Berman LLP)
• D. Aaron Rihn and Sara Watkins (Robert Peirce & Associates)

Have you used a Bugaboo Giraffe highchair or received a recall notice? Did you feel it was safe? Share your experience in the comments.