If you have a baby or a toddler, chances are that you're very careful about the products you purchase for him or her to use. You probably also assume like most consumers that if a product has made it to the retail shelves that it’s relatively safe to use for its intended purpose. Therefore, the cribs that you buy are probably safe and the toys that you buy are probably not going to put your child in a position of danger. That’s not being naïve – that’s simply believing that the laws and regulations in place to protect our young people are generally working.
Unfortunately, that is not necessarily the case. CNN Headline News recently published a story that detailed the problems that relate to children’s products and the lack of standards and regulation that surround them, and the article provided some telling and troubling facts. Specifically, a statement from the founder of Parent Tested Kid Approved told reporters that there are 18 categories of infant and toddler products available to consumers in the United States. Only four of those categories have some type of standardization attached to them.
That means that 14 of the 18 different types of products have no safety standards, have no minimum to meet before being approved for sale to consumers and have no real oversight as they make their way to the retail shelves. Most parents probably do not realize this, and if they did it’s likely that many would have some pointed and blunt questions to ask. The reason that many of these products are not tested is because their descriptions do not necessarily fit into the definition of a specific product that has a specific safety standard. As such, they go unchecked until something terrible happens.
The best way to safeguard against purchasing and using a product for your child that may not have been tested is to do some research before making a buying decision. There are resources available online that will help you find problems that have been reported by consumers so that you can make a more informed decision. While this is not a perfect solution, it will at least provide you with some insight into what you are trusting with your child, as there are no decisions made on a daily basis that are more important.
Sadly, too many people find out the hard way that a children’s product is not safe. Those who must endure this type of pain often find themselves at a loss for what to do next. Parents forced into this position need to do everything possible to stand up for their legal rights and to work to hold those responsible for the harm that was inflicted properly accountable. If your child has been injured by a product, you need to take action. Contact the California defective products lawyers at the Demas Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.
