If there is a convertible high chair in your kitchen, or one waiting in a box at the next yard sale, it is worth taking a minute to read this. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a recall of about 3,332 Costway convertible high chairs, and the reason is the kind that makes any parent or grandparent’s stomach drop.
According to the CPSC recall notice, announced on Oct. 22, 2026, the chairs have no passive restraint system. That means there is nothing built in to stop a child from slipping through the opening between the tray and the seat. The agency describes it as an entrapment and fall hazard, and says the chairs violate the mandatory federal standard for high chairs.
What was recalled and where it was sold
The recall covers Costway convertible high chairs. They were sold at Walmart and Target stores and on Costway.com from May 2023 through July 2026, for between $84 and $100. If you bought one during that window, or were given one by someone who did, you may be holding a recalled chair.
The good news in the notice is that no injuries have been reported. That is worth saying plainly, because a recall is not a report of a tragedy. It is a chance to fix a problem before one happens.
Roughly 3,332 chairs is a small number next to the biggest recalls of the year, but every one of them sits in a home with a child, which is why the CPSC treats an entrapment hazard so seriously.
What to do if you have one
The instruction is simple: stop using the high chair. Costway is offering a free replacement, and the notice calls for a receipt or a photo to claim it. Contact Costway with your receipt or a photo of the chair to start the replacement.
In the meantime, you will need another safe place for your little one at mealtime. A sturdy booster seat that is properly strapped to a chair, a different high chair that you have confirmed is not recalled, or a lap on the couch with a bowl of snacks will all do for the short term. Mealtime can be a little messier for a few days. That is a small price to pay.
Why that gap matters
High chairs are one of the most ordinary pieces of baby gear, which is exactly why a design flaw can be easy to miss. A child who is sitting up, wiggling and reaching for food can slide in unexpected ways. A restraint that keeps a little one from slipping down, usually a strap system that goes between the legs and around the waist, is meant to prevent that. When a chair does not have one, the opening between the tray and the seat becomes a real concern, and that is why the federal standard exists.
Whatever chair you use, buckle your child in every single time, even for a quick snack. It only takes a moment for a child to shift and slide, and never leave a little one unattended in a high chair, even for the time it takes to answer the door.
The secondhand problem
This is where grandparents and thrifty parents should pay extra attention. Baby gear gets passed around constantly. A high chair that is outgrown in a year or two goes to a cousin, a neighbor or a resale listing. A recall notice does not follow the chair. The person who receives it may never know there was a problem.
If you are buying a used high chair, check the brand and model against recall notices before you hand over any money. The CPSC keeps recall information on its website, and it only takes a few minutes to look up a brand and see whether it has been named. Look for a label with the manufacturer and model on the chair itself, and take a photo of it so you can search at home.
If you are the one selling or giving away a chair, make the same check on your own gear. If it is recalled, do not pass it along. The people who read the notice are the ones who can stop it from landing in somebody else’s kitchen.
A quick checklist for any high chair
- Look for the brand and model, and check them against current CPSC recalls.
- Make sure the chair has a working restraint system and that it buckles securely.
- Check that all parts are present, including the tray, and that nothing is cracked or loose.
- Give the chair a gentle shake to make sure it is stable.
- Always use the straps, every meal, every time.
For families with little ones, this kind of news can feel like one more thing to worry about. Try to look at it the other way. You now know about the problem before anyone was hurt, and the fix is a free replacement.
So take a look at the high chair in your house today. If it is a Costway convertible model from the sales window, stop using it and start the replacement process. And if you are shopping secondhand, let this be your reminder to check before you buy. A few minutes now is a small price for a safe mealtime later.
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