Products intended for use by and for infants tend to draw much attention from consumers, especially when a potential defect is discovered that could put children in positions of danger.  Several different products of this type have been recalled in the past year, and it now appears that another infant product could be joining that growing list – baby slings.  The reason appears to be risk of injury and even death.

According to the Examiner:

“According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, they are preparing to issue a warning about baby slings before the end of the week.

Baby slings are carriers that allow parents to keep their infants strapped close to their chest. Although they may look safe – they may not be.

According to Associated Press, these cuddly slings will soon be the subject of a government safety warning due to the fact that infants carried in these slings could potentially be suffocated.

According to Inez Tannenbaum, head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, they know of too many deaths in these slings and the hazard for very small babies is real.”

There have already been several recalls for these products by different companies, but if you are using one of them with your child, you should stop doing so immediately. If your child has suffered an injury because of one of these products and you need legal help, you need to contact the Sacramento defective products lawyers who understand what it takes to hold corporations of all sizes accountable for the harm they’ve caused.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

For many years, the Chinese have been shipping consumer goods to the United States for many reasons.  On the consumer side, these products sold well because they did not cost as much as goods manufactured in the United States or in other countries.  However, that cost savings came with a risk – Chinese products were found to contain high amounts of lead that caused serious injuries.  One such product line that remains popular is children’s toys manufactured in China, and now comes word that in response to the lead concerns, Chinese manufacturers have allegedly replaced that toxin with another, that being cadmium.

According to an AP report published in the Sun-Sentinel in Florida:

“Federal and state watchdogs in the U.S. have opened a new front in the campaign to keep poisons out of Chinese imports, launching inquiries into high levels of cadmium in children’s jewelry while Walmart pulled many suspect items from its store shelves.

A day after The Associated Press documented the contamination in an investigative report, the top U.S. consumer safety regulator warned Asian manufacturers Monday not to substitute other toxins for lead in children’s charm bracelets and pendants.

Regulators and lawmakers reacted swiftly to the AP report, which found that some Chinese manufacturers have been using cadmium, sometimes at extraordinarily high levels. Congress clamped down on lead in those products in 2008, but cadmium is even more harmful.”

Direct exposure to cadmium can lead to cancer, kidney problems and brittle bones, and this could simply be the start of another drawn-out issue with China.  In the meantime, if you or someone you love has been harmed by exposure to this or any other toxic substance, you need the help of Sacramento defective products lawyers who understand how to handle the complicated nature of these sorts of claims.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Product recalls happen with regularity and for many reasons, but some recalls are shocking merely because of the number of units involved.  This could be the reaction of many when they learn that more than 50 million units of Roman-style shades and roll-up blinds have been recalled because of serious concerns regarding the safety of toddlers who can become trapped by the strings attached to them and suffer serious injuries or even death.

According to CNN Money:

“All Roman-style shades and roll-up blinds are being recalled after reports of babies and toddlers dying from strangulation, the federal agency in charge of product safety announced Tuesday — one of the five largest recalls in the agency’s 35-year history.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the recall affects more than 50 million Roman shades and roll-up blinds, which have cords that can get caught around children’s necks.

CPSC said 5 children have died of strangulation and 16 others have been nearly strangled since 2006 because of the Roman shades, which pose a problem because of space between the inner cord and the shade fabric.

oll-up blinds have a large loop at the end of the cord that can strangle young children, the CPSC said, adding that 3 children have died from the roll-up blinds’ hazard since 2000.”

If you have any of these models in your home, take immediate steps to either remove them or repair them properly so they do not pose an imminent danger to any children who may come into contact with them.  If you or someone you love has been harmed by dangerously defective products, you need the help of Sacramento products liability lawyers who have years of experience in holding large corporations accountable for the harm they’ve caused.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Perhaps the most horrifying fear any new parent holds regards the safety of their children. When those worst fears play out in reality, the emotional devastation simply cannot be described. Tragically, that’s what happened to parents in Houston who lost their 8-month-old child to suffocation while sleeping in a crib sold by Simplicity, Inc. As a result of this death, the company, in conjunction with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), has announced a recall of 400,000 units.

According to MSNBC:

“Plastic hardware on the crib can break or deform, the commission said, causing the drop side to detach and creating a gap where babies can fall in. The commission reported another 25 instances of the drop-side detaching.

The maker of the crib, Reading, Pa.-based Simplicity Inc. appears “to no longer conduct day to day operations,” the commission said in its statement about the recall.

The cribs were sold at department stores, children’s stores and other retailers around the country from January 2005 to June 2009. They cost between $150 and $300. The commission said the cribs should be returned to the store where they were purchased.”

Obviously, if you are using one of these products for your child, stop doing so immediately and begin the process of pursuing a refund through the retail outlet. If your child has been injured as a result of using this or any other defective product, you need to contact the defective products attorneys at Demas & Rosenthal immediately to schedule a free initial consultation, as you do have legal rights and options at your disposal.

As most parents know, bringing a new baby into the world can be as challenging as it is exciting. Yet apart from the joys you’ll discover, it’s critical to remember your role as your child’s chief protector. For example, you’ll need to be very careful when furnishing your baby’s room so you can maximize your child’s health and safety. You’ll need to complete some serious research before purchasing a wide variety of items, including a safe crib, mattress, clothing and toys.

Your Baby’s Crib and Mattress

Far too often, attorneys are asked to represent parents of a child who’s suffered serious head trauma, or even death, due to a crib’s improper design. Just recently, more than one million cribs had to be recalled in both the United States and Canada. It seems the mattress supports in those cribs could malfunction and cause serious or deadly injuries to children.

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The impending danger was magnified by the fact that the cribs were being sold by some of the largest discount stores and best-known Web sites in Canada and the United States. A crib mattress should also be purchased cautiously. Long ago, parents just assumed that a firm yet comfortable mattress would fully meet their baby’s needs.

Nowadays, we’re become aware of how incredibly sensitive newborns are to their surroundings. We know we should choose a baby’s mattress that was made without any toxic substances, is fire-retardant and unlikely to provoke allergies and rashes.

Comfort remains important but should never be the sole consideration.

Many modern parents are investing in organic crib mattresses because they’re free of many chemical additives that have been linked to toxic poisoning and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Organic crib mattresses feature pure “grow wool” which comes from sheep and is naturally fire-retardant.

Clothing and Toys

Careful parents should choose clothing for their baby that’s fire retardant yet comfortable. Small buttons or others items that can be pulled off and cause choking should never be sewn on a baby’s daywear or night clothing.

Caution must also be exercised when attaching toys to a crib so that small parts cannot fall off and choke a child. Furthermore, all toys must be free of toxic paint or other harmful substances and be free of any small parts that might fall off and harm a child.

Other General Items

Parents must carefully research the safety of the bottles they’ll be using when feeding their babies and the formulas they’ll be placing in those bottles. During the past year, a number of news stories have discussed the dangerous chemical components of some plastic baby bottles.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/23/america/plastic.php

and http://a.abcnews.com/Health/Consumer/story?id=4657968&page=1

Baby formulas must also be carefully researched. You must be sure to only use those that are free of harmful additives. As it turns out, China was not the only country producing baby formula with the potentially dangerous additive melamine in it. That substance turned up in small quantities in the formula being produced by one American manufacturer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/us/26formula.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=melamine&st=cse

Parents should also purchase changing tables with proper side guards to prevent any falls; carpet that’s non-toxic and slightly padded to soften any unexpected falls; and fire retardant sheets, blankets and pillows.

Last, but most important of all, be sure to check with your baby’s doctor for the latest recommendations for safe baby products.