A recent safety study showed approximately 113 infants deaths occur each year due to crib and playpen designs.

In reviewing the emergency room hospital records for the past 19 years, a recent study found an unacceptable high rate of death and injuries that occurred to children 2 years or younger from these devices. Researchers have now begun issuing a new “call to action” for the need of safety and design changes for cribs and playpens.

Since 1990, this child safety study found, an average of 25 kids per day, received some sort of medical treatment for injuries sustained due to these design flaws. The bigger issue is the reported average deaths per year of a 113 infants, with falls being the highest occurring reason.

For children and infants under the age of 2 years, please follow these practices to reduce the risk of injuries, SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and to help prevent suffocation:

• You should never purchase or use second hand cribs handed down from friends or family members as they may not meet the most current safety standards.
• Make sure there are no missing, loose or broken parts or improperly installed
• screws, brackets or other hardware on the crib or the mattress support.
• When your child is able to pull to a standing position, set the mattress to the
• lowest position.
• Never place the crib near windows where cords from blinds or drapes may strangle a child.
• Always place your baby on his/her back in a crib with a firm mattress.
• Mobiles should be removed from the crib when baby can push up on hands and knees or pull up to a standing position.
• Remove all pillows, quilts, comforters, bumper pads or pillow-like stuffed toys in the crib.
• Consider using a sleeper instead of a blanket.
• If you do use a blanket, place baby with feet to foot of the crib. Tuck a thin
• blanket around the crib mattress, covering baby only as high as his/her chest.
• Use only a fitted bottom sheet specifically made for crib use.