From nursing pillows that pose a suffocation risk to newborns to infant loungers that suddenly collapse, there are all kinds of unsafe products out there on the market aimed at infants and toddlers – and a recent investigative report by NBC News indicates that not enough is being done to get them out of circulation.
Overwhelming, the investigation came to the same grim conclusion: Recalls take far too long to initiate in the first place – and not enough is being done to get the word out to consumers about dangerous products even once recalls do happen.
Too many recalled products continue to be in consumer homes
Consumer advocates say that the entire product recall system is deeply flawed and that neither manufacturers nor the government are doing enough to protect vulnerable children and their families.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is hamstrung by a Reagan-era rule that requires it to consult with manufacturers before issuing a recall – or even a public warning – when it deems a product to be unsafe, and manufacturers are naturally reluctant to admit that they’ve allowed a defective product into the market.
In addition, there’s a notable lack of effort in making sure that the word of a recall spreads as far as it should. Manufacturers might post a recall notice on their social media pages, but they don’t expend nearly the same amount of effort (or money) that they did when marketing those recalled products in the first place. There have been numerous incidents where so few recalled products have been returned that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been obliged to issue multiple recall notices, hoping that more consumers will be alerted.
Unfortunately, many consumers remain oblivious to the potential dangers that many products geared for use by infants and toddlers can pose – especially when they obtain goods from secondary markets, like MarketPlace, Craigslist or various buy-sell-trade groups.
If your child has been injured by a defective product that was recalled, it’s important to put the blame where it belongs: on the manufacturer. Obtaining tailored legal guidance can help you decide what steps to take next.
