When a parent puts their baby down in a crib they expect the crib to provide a safe and comfortable place for their baby to sleep. Often parents have done their very best to research cribs and crib bedding, looking for safety features and cribs with favorable product ratings. Mother and father may carefully follow the instructions when putting the bed together, attempting to ensure a safe haven for their sleeping babe.
Even when a parent has “done their homework” and bought what they assume to be a safe crib the worst can happen. The latest recall is of a crib produced in Indonesia by Munire Furniture, Inc. The cribs do not allow the mattress to be lowered enough, posing a serious threat to children as they become more mobile and are able to stand in their crib. If the mattress is not low enough babies may topple out. This fall can be dangerous and even deadly.
Too Many Cribs Cause Injury and Death
This latest product recall is just another in a long list of recalled cribs and crib parts. In 2007 nearly 1.5 million cribs and play yards were recalled. The recalls often affect cribs that were not made to stand the test of time. They may lose screws, the wood may splinter, or parts may become loose over time. After less than a year of normal use cribs have been know to quite literally fall apart. While it is best to never buy used cribs or to use cribs for many years, there are also new products that are faulty from the beginning.
A recall on a crib made by Simplicity was too late for three families who lost their children after they were strangled between a faulty side rail and the mattress. Seven infants were trapped but survived and over 50 complaints were filed before anything was done. It took the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) two years to pick up that the crib that had killed a nine month old baby. This delay, along with the lack of action on the part of the manufacturer, speaks to the gap between reported injuries and an active recall.
According to their most recent data, CPSC reported 43 deaths and 12,400 injuries a year involving cribs and play yards. Though not all of these injuries and deaths were related to faulty products, even one death due to a badly made crib is too many.
There Are Ways to Prevent Tragedy
First of all parents must keep tabs on the latest crib recalls. Even if you have not heard that your crib has been recalled be sure to check the recall list often to ensure your crib is not mentioned. Even if your particular crib is not on the recalled crib list, you can check consumer product ratings for your crib to see if you have purchased a safe and reliable crib, crib mattress and bedding set. Though checking recall lists and knowing your crib offers no guarantee, you may feel better knowing that you are up to date on the latest crib safety news.
In addition to these steps, there are some safety measures you can take to ensure your little one is safe in their bed. You can inspect your crib, either before purchasing it or during its use, using the following crib safety tips:
The Crib:
- The cribs’ slats should be no wider than 2-3/8 inches apart. This is about the size of a soda can.
- Head and foot boards should have no cut outs or open areas.
- The crib mattress should be able to be lowered as baby grows older and is able to stand.
- Posts on the ends of the cribs should not stick up more than 1/16th of an inch.
- It may be wise to buy a crib that sits lower to the floor. If your child climbs out of the crib the height is much less and therefore safer for your baby.
The crib itself is not the only product that needs careful inspection. Mattresses and bedding can be very dangerous if not used properly. Here are some important tips for ensuring your crib accessories are safe:
Crib Mattresses:
- Mattresses should fit snugly all the way around the crib allowing no more than two fingers to pass between the crib sides and the mattress.
Blankets and Pillows:
- Never place a pillow in the crib with your infant or child.
- Do not place stuffed animals in the crib with your baby as they can cause suffocation.
- There should be no loose bedding in or around your babies crib. This goes for wall hangings and quilts hanging on the side of the crib.
Bumpers:
- Bumpers can be dangerous and are best left off of cribs.
- If you choose to use a bumper make sure it is not pillow like or overly stuffed.
- Remove the bumper as soon as your child can stand to ensure they don’t use it to climb out of the crib.
- Be sure bumpers are tied or snapped securely to each corner and in the middle of each side.
General Crib Safety:
- The crib should be inspected often to check for loose or broken parts.
- Be sure the crib is not near a window or any wall decorations.
- New, unused cribs are always best.
Inherit Design Flaws are the Responsibility of the Manufacturer
No amount of diligence can foresee a defective crib. Even if you have bought what you believe to be a safe product there may be inherent flaws. When these flaws cause harm, the buyer has every right be angry. When buying a new product one assumes it will be safe and free of defects. We know that this not always the case and statistics show the problem getting worse instead of better. If your child has been harmed by a dangerous product and you believe that a faulty product is to blame please do not hesitate to contact Vujasinovic & Beckcom immediately.
es can break, creating a gap, which can pose an entrapment and strangulation hazard to infants.