Nursery Product Injuries: What Families Need to Know

Preparing your home for a new baby can be overwhelming. As parents, we assume the products available for us to buy for our kids are safe. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Every eight minutes, a child under the age of three is treated in an emergency department for a nursery product-related injury.  There are some things families can do to help keep their children safer while using these products. Researchers recommend that parents and caregivers follow the 4 Rs – do your research, check for recalls, register the product, and read the manual.

Do Your Research

Before bringing a new nursery product into the home, go online and look at information from a trusted organization for what types of products are both useful and safe for your baby. They will have the newest research and the most up-to-date recommendations. Here are a few resources we recommend:

• Nationwide Children’s is a great resource for child safety information: NationwideChildrens.org/cirp-nursery-safety
• The American Academy of Pediatrics has a parent-friendly website: HealthyChildren.org
• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: cpsc.gov

Check for Recalls

Go to www.recalls.gov and search the products you’re considering bringing into your home to see if they have been recalled. While you are there, sign up to receive alerts about future recalls. There is a new recall for a nursery product about every two weeks in the U.S., and up to 80% of recalled children’s products remain in homes following a recall.

Register your product

When you bring a new product into your home, make sure to register your purchase with the manufacturer. This will ensure you’re notified if the product is recalled. There’s usually a postcard that comes with the product or the packaging might direct you to complete a form on the manufacturer’s website. If you no longer have the registration card or the manual, you can visit kidsindanger.org/protect-your-child/product-registration.

Read the Manual

Take a few minutes to read the manual before you use it so you can learn how the product works, when to lock it, when to buckle, where to use it, and where not to use it. You also want to confirm that the product is the right one for your child’s age and size.

For more information on specific products for young children, please see the following:

• Nursery (cribs, portable cribs and playpens, changing tables, and general tips): http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/cirp-nursery-safety
• Strollers: http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/cirp-strollers
• Cribs: http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/cirp-cribs-playpens-and-bassinets
• Baby carriers: http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/cirp-baby-carriers
• Car seats and child passenger safety: http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/cirp-child-passenger-safety
• High chairs: http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/cirp-high-chair-and-chair-related-injuries