When parents purchase products to be used by their infants and children, they must place a certain amount of trust in the manufacturer of the product – that the product is free of defects that could pose a risk to the child. Unfortunately, some consumer products marketed for use by young children are found to be hazardous for youngsters.
In such cases, the Consumer Product Safety Commission – the government agency tasked with protecting the public from dangerous consumer products – will often recommend a recall. Recently, the CPSC recommended a recall of the Nap Nanny, a product marketed for infants. The company responsible for the Nap Nanny has refused to participate in the recall. Consequently, at least four retailers that carried the product have voluntarily agreed to remove the Nap Nanny from their shelves.
Why did the CPSC request a recall of the Nap Nanny?
Three different models of the Nap Nanny have been recalled. Problems with the Nap Nanny first arose in 2010, when consumers who had purchased the Generation One model were offered a coupon to buy a more recent model. At the time, the Generation Two model was said to have better instructions and additional warnings.
The initial recall of the Generation One model took place once the CPSC was informed of at least one infant fatality and 22 incidents in which infants fell out of the Nap Nanny.
Since the original recall, around 150,000 Generation Two and Chill models have been sold. Reports of four additional infant fatalities and around 70 cases of infants practically falling out of the Nap Nanny have been received since 2010.
The CPSC reported that the product is defective in the following ways:
- Design defects
- Warning defects
- Instruction defects
Baby Matters, LLC – the manufacturer of the Nap Nanny – refused to participate in the recall. Consequently, retailers including Amazon.com and Toys R Us/Babies R Us agreed to voluntarily recall the product.
The CPSC has also reportedly filed suit against Baby Matters, in an effort to require the company to refund consumers for the dangerous product. The lawsuit also requests that the company be required to inform consumers of the defects.
Protect children from hazardous consumer products
Unfortunately, the Nap Nanny is not the only consumer product marketed for infants that has led to personal injuries and fatalities. When an infant or child is harmed by a consumer product, the family may be entitled to damages.
If your child has been harmed by a consumer product, a knowledgeable personal injury attorney will work to obtain as much compensation as possible. Contact us today.
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