Significant Increase in Children’s Product Recalls in 2016

The number of children’s products that were recalled for safety issues reached the highest levels of any year since 2001 with the exception of 2004, according to a new report published by the nonprofit group Kids in Danger or KID. ABC News says the report analyzed recall data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for the year 2016 and found that last year, there were 76 children’s products recalled, adding up to more than 66.8 million units of defective children’s products.

Compared to 2015, the number of children’s product recalls increased 12 percent in 2016, the report stated. Also, the number of children’s products recalled last year was the highest in any year since 2001 except for 2004, when 150 million vending machine toys were recalled.

Ikea and McDonald’s Lead Recall List

There were a few massive recalls involving children’s products. Swedish furniture retailer, Ikea, recalled about 29 million unites of its Malm dressers, which could collapse and cause fatal crushing injuries to young children. Four toddlers reportedly died as a result of this defective product. Ikea agreed to pay a $50 million settlement to the families of three boys killed by the Malm dressers.

Another large recall of children’s products involved McDonald’s Step-iT activity wristbands that were distributed in Happy Meals. These wristbands were recalled after several children reportedly developed severe skin infections. Other prominent recalls included Tommee Tippee sippy cups that developed mold. Nursery products accounted for nearly a third of the product recalls.

Keeping Your Children Safe

There are a number of steps you can take to keep your children safe and away from dangerous and defective products. Here are a few tips:

• Visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) website at cpsc.gov and make sure that the product you are about to purchase for your child isn’t on a recall list.
• Buy products that are appropriate for your children. This is particularly true for toys. If you have a young child, do not buy toys that have small parts that can come loose. These present serious choking hazards. Separate toys used by older and younger children separately and make sure they do not mix.
• If you accept hand-me-downs or purchase used children’s products, make sure that the product wasn’t recalled. Do not buy products such as car seats used because you never know if they have been in a prior crash. If that’s the case, they may have been weakened by the impact and may not protect your child in the event of a crash.
• Make sure you follow proper assembly instructions for the product.

If your child has been injured as the result of a dangerous or defective product, you may be able to seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, cost of hospitalization, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Contact the Sacramento product defect lawyers at the Demas Law Group P.C., at (916) 444-0100 to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.