Massachusetts Personal Injury Library

Crib Safety Standards: Your Baby's Security Depends on It!

If you’re planning to purchase your baby’s first crib or replace an old one, research the reports of product liability first.

Every year, brand-name models are “voluntarily” recalled in large numbers at the urging of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Companies looking to avoid product liability and personal injury lawsuits willingly conduct these recalls – after problems, injuries or deaths are reported. While the federal government does require manufacturers of baby furniture to meet certain safety benchmarks, it does not conduct pre-sale compliance testing.

If your child has already experienced pinched fingers, falls, suffocation or other injuries due to poor crib safety, you are not alone. More than 11,000 infants or toddlers under 5 years of age are injured every year when baby furniture fails to provide adequate protection.

What Can You Do if Your Baby Was Injured or Killed?

Seek redress from the crib manufacturer through an experienced products liability attorney. Report the problem to the CPSC, perhaps encouraging a recall or redesign, so that other children won’t be hurt.

Increasing Baby Crib Safety through Recalls and Testing

Of crib products recalled during the past two years, both domestic and foreign manufacturers refunded millions of purchases. Faulty furnishings included no-name brands from importers through high-end models licensed by icons such as Playskool.

Recalled cribs were reported to have substandard:

1. Mattress thickness
2. Overall size and dimensions
3. Spacing of railing slats
4. Latch or folding hardware
5. Structural design

While you can check on current recalls with the CPSC, you’ll still need help in making an informed purchase. Visit the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). It tests and certifies thousands of baby items for safety each year. The JPMA seal on packaging lets you know the product has been endorsed by the organization.

If your child was involved in an accident and injured due to a defective crib or playpen, you need a legal team who understands and has experience with product liability cases.

Contact Kiley Law Group, LLP at (888) 208-1695 for a FREE evaluation of your case.