Parents of newborns have enough things to worry about without having to add consumer safety to the checklist. New York personal injury attorney Nicholas Rose is all too familiar with the dangers parents face when it comes to defective products used for their infants.
Crib safety has been a growing concern over the last few years. Last October, NJ.com reported a number of companies in the northeast were forced to recall drop-side cribs. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety finally took action after decades of infant injury and death in dropside cribs.
The CPSC is working with New York Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and American Academy of Pediatrics to get the word out to parents by issuing a “Safe Sleep for Babies” video to hospitals and doctors’ offices. The video focuses on the risks of strangulation and entrapment in cribs. Educating parents, especially first time parents, is a good step in ensuring the safety of infants from serious injury or even fatality.
The CPSC is an excellent resource for parents when it comes to keeping their infants safe from consumer products. The CPSC provides updated information on recalls for products like cribs, play yards, and bassinets. Since 2007, there have been over 11 million of these infant products recalled.
The CPSC offers some simple rules that can assist in a better nights rest for the parent and infant:
-Keep cords or strings out of reach from the infant’s crib in order to prevent strangulation.
-Create a safe sleep environment by not placing thick quilts or pillows in the crib. These kinds of items increase the chances of suffocation.
-Safety standards are constantly improving so parents should not use cribs older than 10 years, or cribs that are broken. Infants can suffer strangulation if the slots are too wide or need repaired.
-Most importantly, parents putting together cribs and play sets should follow the directions provided by the manufacturer. Ensuring that the product is assembled correctly is the best way to keep your child safe.
To reduce the risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome for infants less than 12 months, the CPSC offers the following safety tips:
-Only use a fitted bottom sheet specifically made for crib use.
-Refrain from putting pillows, bumper pads, stuffed toys, or quilts in the crib with the infant.
-Use a firm tight fitting mattress in the crib.
-Place the infant on their back when putting them in the crib for a nap.
-Tightly secure all hardware used on the crib or for mattress support.
If your child has suffered a personal injury from a defective product, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose to discuss your rights. Call toll free at 1-877-313-ROSE (7673) for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your case.
