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· In 1996, there were an estimated 77,600 children under age 5 treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to nursery products
· There were an estimated 1,500 injuries in playpens in 1996
· There were an estimated 400 injuries and deaths to children under 5 from cribs in 1996
· Infants should be placed on their back or side to prevent smothering, infants should never be placed on their stomachs
· When buying children's toys or furniture at garage sales, be sure they are safe and meet Consumer Product Safety Commission standards. If you are uncertain, do not purchase the item!
A safe crib has
· No missing, loose, broken, or improperly installed screws, brackets, or other hardware on the crib or the mattress support.
· No more that 2 3/8 inches between crib slats so a baby's body cannot fit through the slats. A general rule is that if a soda can fits through the slats, they are too wide.
· No corner posts over 1/16 of an inch above the end panels (unless they are over 16 inches high for a canopy) so a baby cannot catch clothing and strangle.
· No cutout area on the headboard or foot board so a baby's head cannot get trapped.
· A mattress support that does not easily pull apart from the corner posts so a baby cannot get trapped between mattress and crib.
· No cracked or peeling paint to prevent lead poisoning.
· No splinters or rough edges.
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