defective cribYou may be surprised to find this article on a South Carolina child accident attorney’s website. Though my job requires advocacy, I believe I have a corresponding duty to inform. For that reason, I provide as many safety tips as possible to families.

4 Things to Look for When Choosing a Safe Crib

In choosing a crib for your baby, there will be lots of options. Each company – much like attorneys – will present their product as being superior to all others. While we are not going to endorse a specific crib, we can provide suggestions on what to look for (adapted from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to help keep your child safe:

  • Make sure the crib has a tight-fitting mattress. If the mattress does not fit tightly against the crib’s sides, a child’s face, arms, or feet can get trapped. Eliminate this risk by testing the crib to guarantee nothing can fit between the mattress and crib.
  • Avoid cribs with corner posts greater than 1/16th inch high. Posts higher than the recommended height create a hazard in that a baby’s clothing can catch upon them. If a baby’s clothes caught upon a corner post, the child’s life could be endangered.
  • If the headboard or footboard has a cut-out – pick a different crib. A baby’s head and arms can get trapped in the cut-out. This needless danger can be avoided by choosing a crib without the stylistic feature.
  • The slats composing the crib's walls should be less than 2 3/8 inches apart. A child's arm, leg, head or body can easily get stuck in between wide slat openings, which can lead to injury. 

Talk with a Child Injury Lawyer About Defective Cribs

Cribs can be dangerous, but they do not have to be. Manufacturers know the risks their cribs present, and I believe it is important that you have this knowledge as well. When you lay your child down to sleep at night, you shouldn't have to worry about whether or not they are in danger. If your child has been injured in a defective crib, we are sorry for what you are going through, and we would be honored to see how we can help. For more information or to speak with a South Carolina accident lawyer, call my firm today at (803) 790-2800 or start a live chat below. 

Kenneth Berger
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Columbia and Myrtle Beach car accident and personal injury lawyer dedicated to securing justice for clients.