What Parents Should Know About Defective Cribs and Child Safety

In the past several years, one of the leading causes of infant death has been linked to defective cribs. A number of child injuries and fatalities have been associated with defective designs and faulty manufacturing of cribs. Sadly, these fatalities and injuries could have been prevented if the proper materials had been used or if the cribs had been designed properly.

In the last decade alone, at least 32 infant deaths involved a drop-side crib. Drop-side cribs have sides that slide down to make it easier for parents to pick up their infant; however, the drop side has presented safety issues resulting in serious injuries and deaths. The drop side can detach, creating a space between the drop side and the crib mattress, in which an infant become trapped. Drop-side cribs have lead to suffocation, strangulation, head injuries, bruises, cuts, bumps, and lacerations, and are now recalled in the U.S.

Manufacturers of cribs have a duty to the public to provide safe equipment for children. Although they may be held liable for injuries and fatalities if the equipment is proven to be faulty, parents should look for safety hazards before placing their infant in a crib. Design defects can include:

• Improperly spaced slats - The slats on a crib should be no more than 2 3/8" apart. Check the spacing between slats to make sure that a child cannot get trapped or entangled, which could lead to serious injuries or death.

• Corner posts - The corner posts should not be more than 1/16" above the end panels. Watch for sharp points which can catch a child's clothes and lead to entanglement, or can cause cuts and lacerations.

• Instability - Check to make sure the crib is stable. A collapse of a crib can lead to asphyxiation or other serious infant injuries. Also, look to see that there are no missing slats, broken parts, or loose hardware.

• Paint - Inspect the finish of the crib to make sure that there is no cracked or peeling paint to avoid Iowa child lead poisoning. Also, look for rough edges or splinters which can harm a baby.

• Mattress - Make sure you use a tight-fitting mattress so the infant cannot become trapped between the side of the crib and the mattress. Also, improper mattress designs can cause toxic harm to a child, as they could contain gaseous elements.

Although manufacturers of cribs are supposed to make sure that their products are safe before they are sold in stores, sometimes they fail to do so and release a defective crib on the market. If your child has been injured, or has suffocated or been strangled due to an unsafe crib design, you need to talk to an experienced Iowa product liability lawyer. Even the most careful, responsible parent cannot protect their child from a defective crib. Call Brady & O'Shea today to take legal action against the crib manufacturer to make sure this tragic accident doesn't happen to anyone else. Call us at (319) 866-9277 today.