Crib Safety

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 5 million cribs, bassinets and play yards have been recalled in the last two years. Several of these recalls were prompted by infant deaths due to suffocation or strangulation. In most cases, it takes months or years after a baby death for the manufacturer to recall the crib, bassinet or play yard.

Check to see if your crib has been recalled and learn about a crib recall lawsuit.

With any crib, bassinet or play yard, following a few simple rules will keep babies sleeping safely and will give parents a better night’s sleep:

To prevent suffocation, never place pillows or thick quilts in a baby’s sleep environment. Also, make sure there are no gaps larger than two fingers between the sides of the crib and the mattress.
Proper assembly of cribs is paramount - Follow the instructions provided and make sure that every part is installed correctly. If you are not sure, call the manufacturer for assistance. Once the crib is assembled, check all bolts and other parts to make sure everything is solid.
Do not use old, broken or modified cribs - Infants can strangle to death if their bodies pass through gaps between loose components or broken slats while their heads remain entrapped.
Do not try to repair any side of the crib, especially with tape, wire or rope.
Properly set up play yards according to manufacturers' directions. Only use the mattress pad provided with the play yard; do not add extra padding.
Make sure to tighten hardware from time to time to keep the crib sturdy.
Never place a crib near a window with blind or curtain cords; babies can strangle on curtain or blind cords.
Consider purchasing a crib without a drop-down or any other movable part. Cribs do not need movable parts, and several of the recalls are associated with defective movable parts.
Do not purchase a crib that is cute. Purchase one that is safe.
Manufacturers are not required to do any safety testing of cribs, etc. before putting them on the market, so parents and caretakers should do their own testing with a doll to see if there is any way a baby or young child could get entrapped and suffocate or get strangled by any part of the crib.
Always check all sides and corners of the crib for disengagement. Any disengagement can create a gap and entrap a child. This is related to the above point.
If you are compelled to use a drop-side crib, check to make sure the drop-side or any other moving part operates smoothly.

Pritzker Olsen law firm is recognized nationally in the area of product liability, and attorneys at the firm have been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Lawyers USA and other publications. To contact a product liability lawyer for a free consultation, call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online-consultation form for review by an attorney.

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