Baby Product Recalls by the Numbers

The recent Delta Enterprise crib recall is just one in a long line of baby product recalls. The statistics are scary – thousands of children are killed or injured due to manufacturing problems every year. What can you do to keep your baby safe? Simply put, understanding the products you’re using and staying up-to-date on current and past recalls is the best way to ensure that your home is safe for infants and toddlers.

According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27,500 babies died before their first birthday in 2001, and that number rose slightly in 2002. Quite a high number of these deaths, however, were due to medical problems since birth. In fact, accidents do not even rank in the top five most common reasons for infant death, according to their report. As a parent, it is important to keep this in mind, because although babies need protection, you can’t live in fear.

Still, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s November 2007 report on recalls, 36% of all recalls in the United States are for baby products. That’s a large number compared to jewelry, which came in at #2 with 13%. By far, the most prevalent problem with products is the use of lead, which occurred in 47% of all recalls and many of the baby-related recalls. Although the Delta Enterprise recall did not involve lead, a past recall by the company a few years ago did occur due to this toxic substance.

Cribs are not, by far, the only baby products being recalled. Some other baby recall products over just the past year include Simplicity bassinets in August 2008, Baby Trend car seats in July 2008, Cicco car seats in June 2008, Beco Baby infant carriers and Toys R Us wooden activity centers in April 2008, Graco booster seats and Combi car seats in March 2008, Recaro and Eveflo car seats in February 2008, Baby Einstein crib toys in January 2008, Cosco car seats and Srokke strollers in December 2007, and Mia Moda car seats in November 2007. If you go back in time even further, the list continues to grow, and in if you expand the list to include children’s toys and products (rather than just baby items), you’ll see that, on average, three to five products are recalled every month. That’s millions of unsafe children’s items found around the world.

When trying to create a safe environment for your kid, keep in mind two main tips: use common sense and stay up-to-date with recall reports. By knowing common crib safety tips, for example, you can spot a crib problem even if you haven’t heard about a recall. By visiting the Consumer Product Safety Commission website, however, you can sign up for their handy email service, which will send recall alerts and safety news straight to your inbox every day. This will help you keep your home safe for both you and your baby! Remember, if your child was hurt due to a manufacturing problem with a crib or any other baby items, contact a defective crib lawyer today to find out about your rights. It is important that new problems with baby items are discovered and announced quickly to prevent more injuries.