After using Simply Thick to feed their premature baby daughter, the Umphress’ infant developed life-threatening necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an intestinal condition with a 25% mortality rate and which imposes lifelong injuries on survivors. The Umphress’ daughter, after being airlifted to Children’s Hopsital in Albuquerque and receiving two blood transfusions over a period of twenty days, is now stable but continues to suffer from NEC.

The FDA issued a warning in May 2010 that Simply Thick may cause NEC and that it should not be fed to premature infants. In June 2011, Simply Thick, LLC issued a voluntary recall of Simply Thick thickening gel manufactured at a particular processing plant. By July 2011, the product was released back to the market but is now accompanied by a warning not to feed Simply Thick to premature infants.

Read the full article at Las Cruces Sun-News. Learn more about the Simply Thick recall and victim’s rights.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the electrical cords on the monitors can be dangerous for babies if placed too close to their crib

More than 40 different models of handheld, digital and color monitors, are being recalled by Summer Infant. The monitors were sold at major retailers between 2003 and 2011. Going forward, the company will provide new on-product warning labels and instructions about monitor placement.

For more information on model numbers of recalled monitors, consumers can contact Summer Infant at 800-426-8627.

Lieff Cabraser currently represents parents whose children have been injured from defective health and baby care products. If your child has been injured from a defective product, we welcome you to contact a Lieff Cabraser defective product attorney. We will review your claim in confidence without charge or obligation.

The drop-side cribs have come under scrutiny in recent years because of malfunctioning hardware that can lead to the drop-side rail partially detaching from the crib.  When this happens, it can creat a dangerous “V” -like gap between the mattress and side rail where a babie can become entrapped and suffocate.

As part of their new standard, the CPSC plans to vote on this week a more rigorous safety testing for cribs.

Lieff Cabraser currently represents parents whose children have been injured by defective cribs.  Learn more about the crib recalls.

On April 30, 2010, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of thousands of Simplicity cribs due to suffocation and strangulation dangers. The current recall includes seven Simplicity crib models sold at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Corp., Babies R Us and other national stores. The Simplicity recall includes all full-sized cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames, which can bend or detach, causing the mattress to collapse and creating a space that a baby can roll into, become trapped in and suffocate.

According to the CPSC, at least one child became trapped in his Simplicity crib and suffocated in 2008. The company at large has been subject to about a dozen recalls since 2005 with links to 13 crib deaths.

Graco Crib Recall

On April 30, 2010, the CPSC recalled 217,000 Graco dropside cribs manufactured by LaJobi. The agency confirmed that there have been 99 complaints of dropside problems with the cribs. The recall is the result of hardware failures in the wood cribs. According to news reports the dropside (the side of the crib that moves up and down) can break or detach, resulting in a dangerous gap between the crib mattress and crib side that creates the risk of suffocation or strangulation.

As noted by the CPSC in its recall notice, the hardware and latches on the drop side of the certain Dorel cribs can break or deform, causing the drop side to detach.  When the drop side detaches it creates a space between the drop side and crib mattress in which an infant or toddler can become entrapped.  When an infant or toddler’s face, neck and/or torso are compressed, the child can quickly suffocate and die or suffer permanent injuries.

In addition, recalled cribs can pose a serious entrapment and strangulation hazard when a slat is damaged. This can occur while the crib is in use, in storage, being put together, taken apart or reassembled; or during shipping and handling.

A complete list of the models of Dorel cribs that were recalled can be found here.   The CPSC advises consumers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs, find an alternative safe sleeping environment for your child, and contact Dorel Asia to receive a free replacement kit.

Consumers should log on to www.dorel-asia.com to order the free replacement kit to prevent child entrapment in these cribs.  The repair kits will be provided to owners within the next several weeks.  Or consumers can call Dorel Asia toll-free at (866) 762-2304 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Consumers may report crib malfunctions, entrapments, problems, injuries and/or deaths to the CPSC by calling its recall hotline at (800) 638-2772.

Lieff Cabraser is currently representing parents whose children were severely injured or died in defective cribs or bassinets.

Two infants suffocated this summer — a 4-month-old in Georgia and a 5-month-old in Oregon. The beds, made by Amby Baby USA of Minneapolis, look somewhat like a baby swing, but have mesh and fabric sides, resembling a hammock.

The recall involves approximately 1.2 million  Stork Craft Manufacturing cribs, some sold with Fisher-Price logos,  distributed in the United States and almost one million cribs distributed in Canada. Read a copy of the CPSC recall notice. And now there is a major push to ban those types of cribs. The federal government has recalled nearly 5 million cribs in the past two years — many of them with drop down sides.

Read the full story on the MSNBC news site. Learn more about the crib recall and the legal rights of parents whose infants were injured.

A ferocious lobbying battle over the legislation has pitted public health and education groups against chemical, pharmaceutical and packaging giants, and has been closely watched around the nation amid similar movements to ban the chemical. As the Times notes, More than 200 peer-reviewed studies on animals and humans have linked BPA to health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, liver problems, brain damage, cancer and hormone disruption. The chemical can accumulate in the human body after leaching into food and beverages from hard plastic containers, especially when heated, and from the epoxy lining of metal cans.

Limited bans on bisphenol A have been enacted in Canada, as well as Connecticut and Minnesota, and in several cities, including Chicago. Congress and about 20 other states are considering restrictions. Under the Bush administration, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration delayed taking action on BPA, saying that its levels did not pose a threat, but members of Congress accused the agency of allowing undue industry influence on its deliberations. More than 60 groups endorsed a California ban, including the Sierra Club, Heal the Bay, and Planned Parenthood Affiliates. Read the full story on the LA Times website.

In August 2008, the Consumer Product Safety Commission warned parents about Simplicity bassinets after the deaths of two infants who got trapped in Simplicity bassinets. After additional deaths in September 2008 and January 2009, the CPSC re-announced the earlier recall amid concerns that the public might not hear about recalls when they are first announced.

Bassinets can pose serious dangers to babies and very young children. Defective bars and slats can allow children to become entangled, trapped, or strangled; defective bedding and other fabric can lead to suffocation or airway obstruction; and defective design can allow an infant to become trapped between the bottom and side of a bassinet.

Visit Lieff Cabraser’s Personal Injury Law website for further information on alleged defects in Simplicity Inc. bassinets as well as other dangerous and defective children’s nursery products and toys.