Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Unsafe Cribs and Unsafe Baby Furniture Can Cause Death!
Parents rely on quality baby furniture to safeguard their children during the moments when they cannot. Injuries and deaths related to baby cribs and other children’s furniture products are very difficult for parents and families to cope with.
While some accidents relate to crib accessories and location, many are the fault of poor design or inadequate product testing. In a three-year period sample ending in 2004, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) learned of 97 crib deaths and thousands of injuries, some of which prompted recalls.
How Baby Furniture Can Cause Injuries
Many parents presume that a new crib is a safe crib. The numbers claim otherwise. In a given year, the CPSC reports an average of over 11,000 injuries attributed to cribs.
Crib safety can be threatened by:
- Design flaws in defective products
- Use of pillows or loose bedding
- Broken or worn crib furniture
- Placement near strangulation hazards
- Slips and falls*
*This last category is responsible for thousands of injury cases, as well as 6% of deaths due to slipping into cracks and 3 percent blamed on falls.
Falls can result from railings that are too low or unstable. And slips can result in injury or suffocation when an infant becomes wedged between a faulty railing and mattress or other small space adjoining the crib.
These may or may not relate to the first group, accidents caused by product failure.
Warning Signs of Poor Crib Construction
Some recent crib recalls involved products with wooden slats that could be easily broken by infants or drop-rails that disengaged from the crib structure, creating dangerous open spaces.
Other signs of substandard safety include surface splinters, decorative cut-outs and ribbons, and poorly fitting mattresses. These can cause cuts, puncture wounds, entrapment, or strangulation. Before buying, check the CPSC Website for a list of currently recalled children’s furniture.
How to Purchase a Safe Crib
Cribs and other baby furniture that have been certified to meet industry safety standards will include labeling from the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA). Visit JPMA for a list of certified items and safety news for parents.
When shopping, check crib floor models for:
- At least two locking wheels
- Smooth wood or intact mesh finish
- Snug-fitting mattress
- Sturdy slats that won’t loosen
- Child-proof drop-side latches
In general, metal base supports are more rugged than wood, but wooden sides and railings are more durable than mesh, which can tear and pose a hazard. Parents can prevent personal injury and avoid defective products by researching crib brands and models before buying.
If your child was injured due to a possible defect in their crib or playpen, contact an attorney who is experienced in handling product liability cases. We will evaluate your case for FREE. Call (888) 208-1695 today!
