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Is Your Baby’s Crib Safe? How to Check for Recalled Children’s Products

Expecting a baby means a long list of items you need to purchase in preparation for the new arrival. A baby requires items such as a crib, car seat and stroller. When buying these items, do not assume a brand or model is safe just because it is on the shelves. Be especially wary if purchasing the item used or secondhand. New crib and other children’s product recalls enter the national recall list almost daily. A recalled crib could contain defects or hazards that pose a threat to your child. According to Las Vegas injury law firm Panish Shea & Boyle here are some things to look out for when purchasing products for your children. 

Purchase New

 It can seem daunting to purchase only new items for your baby, but it can be very important to ensure the safety of the items. A used crib could contain issues such as wear and tear, structural damage or bed bugs that could put your child at risk. A used crib may also be old and outdated, without the knowledge of infant sleep safety companies have today to design and manufacture better cribs. An older crib may have design elements modern companies no longer use due to potential safety risks. Purchasing a crib new is a great way to guarantee its safety compliance…unless the item is on the federal product recall list.

Always Check the CPSC Recall List

 The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) takes consumer safety seriously. It keeps an updated product recall list online for all consumers to view and search. The CPSC documents all voluntary and involuntary product recalls in the U.S. Expecting parents can browse through the most recent product recalls or search for a specific item, brand or model. Searching the recall list for cribs will come up with every recalled crib since 1978. 

The most recent recalled crib on the list is the Dream on Me Drop-Side Crib, recalled in 2011. The company recalled the full-size crib after complaints of the side rail hardware breaking, causing the side to detach from the crib and create a space between the side and mattress that could cause infant entrapment, strangulation and/or suffocation. The recall impacted about 22,000 units manufactured between January 2006 and December 2009. Unfortunately, two children suffered injuries because of the defect before Dream on Me recalled the crib.

 

As of 2012, it is against the law to sell or buy any drop-side crib due to similar problems with other models. More than 50 recalls involved drop-side infant cribs. Sadly, defective drop-side cribs contributed to 32 infant deaths. Avoid this type of crib if you decide to purchase used. Before you buy a crib or any other product for your child, conduct a search for it on the CPSC recall list. You can search for the specific item to view any history of issues, defects or recalls. A quick search could help you avoid buying a crib that may endanger your infant.

Register Your Crib With the Manufacturer

 Avoiding a previously recalled crib may be easy, but how can parents protect their infants from brand-new defects discovered in cribs? Register the crib you purchase with the product’s manufacturer. You will then receive a notification if the manufacturer issues a recall on your specific model of crib. The manufacturer will send out a recall notice as soon as possible to anyone who purchased and registered the crib to help prevent infant and toddler injuries.

 

If the manufacturer recalls your child’s crib, stop using it immediately. Find a safe alternative for your infant to sleep until you can repair or replace the recalled crib. Even without a recall notice, inspect your child’s crib regularly for signs of an issue such as loose hardware, cracked plastic or a wobbly crib. Notify the manufacturer and the CPSC of any issues you notice right away.

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