Congress banned crib bumper pads after more than 100 infants suffocated to death, numerous recalls, class action lawsuits, and decades of advocacy from angry parents and doctors.
Need a Texas Crib Bumper Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If your baby was injured, suffocated or died from a crib bumper pad, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
What Are Crib Bumper Pads?
Crib bumpers are padded material that go around the inside edges of a crib. They protect a baby from impact injuries against the side of the crib. They also help prevent the baby’s arms and legs from getting stuck in between the crib slats.
Congress Bans Crib Bumper Pads & Inclined Sleepers
In May 2022, the U.S. Senate passed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2021, a bill that would ban crib bumper pads (excluding mesh liners) and nearly all inclined sleepers. These two products have been linked to hundreds of infant deaths since the 1990s. In most of these tragedies, babies became trapped against the fabric and suffocated.
Crib Bumpers Linked to 107 Baby Deaths, 282 Non-Fatal Incidents Since 1990
Between 1990 and 2016, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported 107 infant deaths and 282 non-fatal incidents involving crib bumper pads. Following the report, CPSC commissioner released a statement calling bumper pads “deadly clutter” in our nation’s cribs.
What is the Risk?
Crib bumper pads can cause severe injuries and deaths from suffocation, strangulation, and choking.
- Suffocation: Babies can suffocate to death if their face is pressed against the bumper or wedged between the bumper and the side of the crib or the mattress. In several reported deaths, the baby rolled off a foam sleep positioner and became wedged up against the crib bumper, causing them to suffocate.
- Strangulation: Babies can strangle on the strings that attach the bumper to the sides of the crib, or if the decorative fabric on a crib bumper pad detaches. Thousands of crib bumpers have been recalled for strangulation hazards.
- Choking: Babies can choke if they swallow strings that have detached, or other broken parts of the crib bumper.
Safety Hazards of Crib Bumpers
- Suffocation or near-suffocation
- Baby’s arms or legs get stuck between crib bumper and slats
- Head gets trapped under the crib bumper, or between the bumper and another object
- Choking or ingestion of bumper pad strings or other parts
- Strangulation or entanglements in bumper pad strings, decorative fabric, or other parts
12,000 Pottery Barn Crib Bumpers Recalled for Strangulation Hazard
In May 2013, Pottery Barn Kids recalled about 12,000 Sweet Lambie Crib Bumpers that were sold since 2009 because the thread in the decorative stitching on the bumper can loosen, posing a strangulation and entanglement risk to babies.
There were 2 reports of the decorative stitching coming loose and entangling children, including reports of the thread wrapping around a child’s neck.
The recalled crib bumpers were sold nationwide at Pottery Barn Kids stores, catalogs and outlets, and online at potterybarnkids.com from April 2009 through July 2012 for between $129 and $149.
Crib Bumper Class Action Lawsuit Filed in Ohio
In November 2019, a class action lawsuit was filed against Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma for misleadingly advertising crib bumpers as “safe” accessories for baby cribs, without warning parents that crib bumpers actually pose a serious risk of suffocation and death.
The lawsuit was filed on October 19, 2019 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio — Ferguson et al v. Pottery Barn, Inc. and Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Case No. 19-cv-633.
Need a Crib Bumper Lawyer in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.
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