Personal Injury Possibilities: Baby Cribs

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Did you know that your baby could be at risk to injury or death while he or she is sleeping? While cribs, bassinets, and play pens are safer than a lot of other places that your baby could sleep, there are times that the products are recalled for dangers. In fact, since 2007, over 11 million cribs, bassinets, and play pens have been recalled because they had a tendency to collapse or pose danger to the infant who lay inside. Babies spend a lot of time in these areas, so it is essential that you purchase a crib that is safe and sound. With any sleeping area, there are precautions you can take to heighten your baby’s level of safety.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission, it is always best to avoid placing pillows, thick quilts or other dangerous fabrics near your baby. Stick to breathable fabrics in order to percent the possibility of smothering. As well, you should make sure that there are no gaps larger than two fingers between the mattress and the sides of the crib that your child sleeps in. Large gaps could become an injury hazard, especially if your child sticks his or her fingers or arm into the crevice where it will get stuck. Also, make sure that the slats in the crib are not large enough for the baby to fit his or her head through. Make sure that all slats are study, and couldn’t break, splintering and harming your small child.

The CPSC also says that proper assembly is paramount when it comes to baby cribs or bassinets. Make sure to follow the instructions closely and secure all nuts and bolts tightly. You will want to call the manufacturer if you are not sure about how to put your crib together; guessing may cost you your child’s life. It’s a wise idea to get a new crib if your model is over 10 years old. Older products tend to deteriorate. The wood may get weaker, or the frame may sag. You should also observe proper assembly when setting up a play pen, and only use the mattress that came with the product. Extra reinforcement may be too much weight for the metal frame.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently released new federal requirements for all crib manufacturers. Now, the traditional drop-side cribs that have been used for years can’t be made or sold and all drop-side cribs cannot be replaced by a repair kit. This is because of the danger for children to fall out or to pinch their fingers. Also, wood slats must be made thicker so that they will not break when hit. The cribs must have reinforced mattress support, and have stronger hardware so that there is no possibility of a terrible collapse. Talk to a personal injury attorney if your sweet child was harmed due to the poor manufacturing of a crib!