Product safety is an important issue in today’s society. We need to make sure that the products we use every day are safe. One of the most important areas of product safety is products that are used for infants. Since infants can’t protect themselves or notify someone if they are in danger, the products they use must be completely child proof.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has reviewed the safety of infant bouncer seats and approved new federal standards to prevent injuries or death. An infant bouncer seat is a reclining chair for a baby that bounces to soothe them. It is specifically intended for infants under 6 months of age who cannot yet sit up without assistance.
Bouncer seats present a real danger to infants. Between January 2006 and July 2016, 347 accidents were reported to the CPSC, including 54 injuries and 12 deaths. Most of the accidents involving death resulted from suffocation when a baby who was not strapped in to the bouncer seat turned over in the seat or the bouncer flipped over on a soft surface like a bed or crib. Another common cause of injury was due to infants falling from a bouncer placed in an unsafe location such as a table or kitchen countertop resulting in skull fractures, concussions, and brain damage.
The new stricter requirements are designed to reduce the risk of head injuries from falls from high places like counter tops and tables. It proposes to do so by requiring that fall hazard warning labels be placed on the front of a bouncer seat hear the baby’s head and shoulders so it is more visible to caregivers. The new federal standards also
Even with the new federal standards, caregivers must be aware of the dangers of infant bouncer seats and make sure to use them in a safe manner. The CPSC recommends the following tips:
- Do not use an infant bouncer seat once a baby can sit up on her own or reaches 20 lbs or the manufacturers recommended weight. This can cause the seat to tip over.
- Always use the bouncer seat on the floor only. Never place the bouncer on an elevated surface such as a table or counter.
- Do not place the bouncer seat inside of a crib or on a bed or soft blanket. The bouncer can tip over and the infant can suffocate on the soft surface.
- Always use the seat belt restraints on the infant bouncer, even if the baby is asleep. This will keep the infant from flipping in the seat or falling out.
- Never leave a baby in a bouncer seat unattended.
Product safety standards are particularly important to protect our children. Alexander Law Group, LLP keeps the public advised of news that can keep your family safe. If you or someone you know has suffered a product-related injury, the San Francisco attorneys at Alexander Law Group, LLP are here to help. You can reach one of our California personal injury attorneys at 888.777.1776, or you can contact us online.
