How Can Recalled Children’s Products Put Kids in Danger?

As a parent, you want to keep your children safe from harm. However, even everyday household products designed for kids can pose serious risks because of defects or safety hazards. In 2022, more than 100 children’s products were recalled because of potential dangers, marking the highest number of recalls in nearly a decade.

These recalled items, which contain choking hazards, lead contamination, and fire risks, remind all families to stay vigilant about product safety. If your child was injured by a defective product, a Green Bay defective product lawyer can explain your legal options and fight for the compensation your family deserves.

Hazards Children from Recalled Items

While product recalls aim to remove dangerous items from homes before a child is injured, millions of recalled products remain in use nationwide. This puts children at serious risk of injuries and illnesses like:

• Choking/Strangulation: Poorly designed products with loose parts, cords, or straps can present choking or strangulation risks for young children. For instance, MamaRoo Baby Swings and Rockers were recalled due to strangulation risk after a 10-month-old died from being entangled in the swing’s strap.

• Lead Contamination: Lead poisoning from ingesting or handling lead-contaminated products can cause developmental delays and organ damage in kids. In 2023, Green Sprouts Bottles and Cups were recalled due to the potential for lead poisoning in children.

• Crush Risks: Items that are improperly secured or have heavy components can pose serious crush hazards, resulting in injuries, amputation, or death. For instance, Goalsetter Wall-Mounted Basketball Goals were recalled due to impact and crush hazards after detaching from the wall. One death was linked to this before the recall of over 18,000 units.

• Unsafe Chemicals: Products with hazardous substances can pose serious health risks to children, particularly babies and toddlers. In 2024, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warned against Tuladuo Water Bead Sets containing high levels of acrylamide, a toxin that caused life-threatening injuries in at least one child.

• Fire and Burn Risks: Devices with faulty electrical components or damaged batteries can create severe fire and burn hazards. Yoto Mini Speakers were recalled in 2024 due to burn and fire hazards caused by the speaker’s lithium-ion batteries overheating and potentially catching fire.

• Entrapment/Suffocation: Sleep environment hazards like cribs, mattresses, and bedding can lead to injury or death if they lack airflow or a child becomes entrapped. For example, over 200,000 Pillowfort Weighted Blankets were recalled after two reported deaths due to entrapment and suffocation when children unzipped and entered the blanket.

What to Do if a Defective Product Harmed Your Child?

Discovering that your child has been injured or made sick by a product intended for their use can be devastating, but taking prompt action can protect their well-being and legal rights. If a recalled or defective product harms your child, follow these steps:

• Seek Medical Attention Immediately: Ensure your child receives appropriate medical care and treatment. Carefully document all injuries or illnesses, save medical records and bills, and follow instructions from healthcare providers.

• Remove and Secure the Product: As soon as possible, remove the defective product from your home and secure it in a safe place. Do not dispose of it; your attorney may be able to use it as evidence in a defective product claim.

• Report the Incident: Report the incident to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the product’s manufacturer. Provide as much detail as possible about what happened, the product name and model, and your child’s injuries. Keep a copy of your report and any communications you receive.

• Document Everything: Thoroughly document all details surrounding the incident, including when it occurred, how the product was used, and visible product defects or hazards. Take photographs and videos of the product, your child’s injuries, and other relevant details.

• Consult a Defective Product Attorney: Contact an experienced defective product lawyer to discuss your legal options for pursuing a claim against the manufacturer or others responsible. Our team at Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers knows how to prove negligence in defective product cases and can help you seek maximum compensation under the state’s product liability laws.

Get Legal Help for Injuries from Recalled Children’s Products

While no amount of money can undo the trauma after your child is hurt, holding negligent companies accountable can get you compensation for medical bills and emotional suffering. It can also promote product safety standards to protect children from future harm.

The Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers team is passionate about advocating for injured children’s rights and can help your family seek justice in a civil claim. Contact us today for a free case review. We will listen to your story, explain your legal options, and help you secure the recovery award your family deserves.