Recent Surge in Crib Accidents Prompts Safety Reform
Next time you think it’s safe to leave your baby unattended in a crib, think again.
Design flaws and confusing instruction manual – among other factors – contribute to the rising number of crib accidents in the past two years, resulting in the federal government’s recall of 3.6 million cribs. That’s more than the number of recalled cribs in the last 30 years combined.
Some of the problems recurrently reported by parents include:
(1) Mattress platforms that drop and form a gap that can entrap and strangle babies;
(2) Bars too far apart, allowing babies’ small and flexible bodies to slide through;
(3) Confusing installation manuals that allow parents to misassemble;
(4) Flawed designs that allow cribs to operate even when misassembled, albeit dangerously.
Injuries from crib mishaps can become terrible tragedies, with children dying or even suffering brain injury.
Before the government puts in place new and stricter safety regulations, what can parents do to minimize the chance of their babies getting injured in the cribs? They should always make sure the cribs are assembled properly and securely, and never assume that nothing will happen to the babies simply because they’re in the cribs -- check up on them frequently!
