By Laura Nikolovska
When KID was founded in 1998, there was no requirement that children’s products be tested for safety before they were sold. New standards and testing have been implemented but some products still fall out of the scope of those requirements – leaving babies vulnerable to find the hazards.
Below is a list of products that have safety concerns and KID recommends that you avoid. For more information on child product safety, visit KidsInDanger.org.
Older model and drop side cribs
Dozens of babies have died in unsafe cribs and millions of cribs have recalled for safety hazards. In 2011, the strong new crib standards went into effect and address the safety concerns. Purchase a crib made after June 28, 2011 and never use drop side cribs.
Unsafe play yards and portable cribs
Play yards made after February 28, 2013 meet tough, new safety standards and address the hazards of past play yards. However, like cribs, many older models and recalled play yards remain in use. Check your product to make sure it hasn’t been recalled and meets the current safety standard.
Crib accessories
These include, but are not limited to; crib bumper pads, sleep positioners and other infant sleep products. Remember, in the crib, bare is best.
Crib alternatives
Babies sleep safest in a non-recalled crib that meets current federal standards. However, some sleep products, such as the Nap Nanny, were marketed as being safe for sleep without adequate testing. While the Nap Nanny was recalled, similar products are still being sold. Babies should only sleep in products tested to high standards for safe sleep.
Magnet toys
Tiny magnets can fall out of toy sets and high powered magnet sets like Buckyballs and be ingested by small children. When more than one is swallowed, they can attract, causing intestinal perforation, infection, and potentially fatal injuries. Keep these dangerous toys away from small children.
Bath seats
These are often viewed as safety devices, but don’t keep baby safe. A tough new standard means there are currently no safety tested seats sold in the US. Older seats tendency to tip over makes them an unsafe choice when bathing baby. Instead of a bath seat, consider using a small baby bathtub within the larger bath instead.
Walkers
Many doctors still warn against the use of walkers, and walkers are illegal to use in daycares in many states. Use a stationary activity center that hasn’t been recalled instead.
Products without strong safety standards
Some products don’t fit any one category and therefore have little or no safety testing. An example of such a product is the Bumbo seat. This product has been recalled and is responsible for skull fractures and other injuries. KID advises parents and caregivers to not use the seat without getting and installing the restraint strap and never on an elevated surface.
Author Bio
Laura Nikolovska. Laura came to KID in September 2012 after 5 years in the education sector. She graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Secondary Education from the University of Missouri, where she was an NCAA student athlete. She lives in Chicago with her husband. Laura can be reached at Laura@KidsInDanger.org
