As a Miami dangerous products law firm we see many of the life-changing injuries caused by defective design. None is more heart wrenching than crib-related deaths. The Journal of Pediatrics recently released a study indicating that nearly 10,000 American babies are injured by cribs every year. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission there have been 32 infant suffocation and strangulation deaths since 2000.
In 90% of the cases, the injured child was left alone when the fall occurred. Most of the injuries were to the head and neck. Wonder why? As a Florida child injury lawyer, I believe the fact that the Consumer Products Safety Commission has not updated its crib safety standards for nearly 30 years is the primary reason for so many preventable injuries.
Starting in June new Federal Standards will be in place for all cribs bought and sold in the U.S. In the meantime consider the following ways to keep your baby safe:
- Never place pillows or thick quilts in a baby’s sleep environment to prevent suffocation .
- No gaps larger than two fingers between the sides of the crib and the mattress.
- Proper assembly of cribs is paramount – If you are not sure, call the manufacturer for assistance or hire a professional crib installer.
- Do not use broken, modified or rented cribs, especially if more than 10 years old.
- Never place a crib near a window with blinds or baby monitor cords.
