Baby crib accidents are among the concerns new parents face when bringing their infant home, with statistics reports suggesting they are becoming increasingly more common.

According to a recent report in Pediatrics, there are approximately 66,000 injuries related to baby crib accidents per year, with the study further estimating that a child under the age of three is injured every eight minutes.

Along with baby crib accidents, these injuries can also be caused by other baby products like baby carriers and strollers. Nationwide researchers analyzed emergency room data from 1991 to 2011 and estimated 1,391,844 children had been brought to the emergency room under the age of 3 for baby crib accidents and other incidents related “nursery products.”

Even considering these statistics, researchers believe the number may be higher, as children do not always end up in the emergency room when injured.

However, researchers are surprised by the number of baby crib accidents or other related baby product incidents reported. The manager of translational research of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Tracy Mehan,  stated that it could be due to parent’s greater awareness of concussion symptoms.

Overview of Baby Crib Accidents

According to Mehan, the most common cause of injuries is falling and the product most commonly associated is baby carriers. “Most injuries occur when kids fall out themselves or when the product malfunctions,” Mehan explained in an interview with Today.

The other primary cause of baby crib accidents is bedding and baby cribs because children often get tangled up in bedding. This is due to a number of factors including the sizes of the mattress and cribs being mismatched, which allows for the faces to get stuck between the mattress and the outside of the crib.

The severity of baby crib accidents ranges between cases, from simple bumps and bruises to suffocation or even sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This is because the infant can become trapped under the nursery furniture piece, cutting off their air supply. Mehan and other experts recommend bare cribs with no bumpers, stuffed animals or blankets while the infant sleeps.

Furthermore, it has been noted that cribs manufactured after 2011 may be safer because that year was when “safety standards for cribs pretty dramatically improved.” The safety of cribs has been a concern to the public and safety experts for years, which has recently resulted in a recall of over 11 million cribs.

Drop side cribs are noted to be particularly dangerous, reportedly causing 32 deaths since 2000. However, even if the products are recalled, Mehan noted that approximately 80% of recalled products stay in the home because parents did not receive word of the recall.

Noting when and what recalls occur on nursery products is one of many steps parents can take to prevent injuries, as well as registering a new product so the manufacturer can reach out to notify them of any potential problems.

Mehan further recommended reading the product’s manual before using the product, so the parents understand how the product is set up and prevent possible injury.

Even though this report is helpful, manufacturing companies may still be liable for any baby crib accidents or other related incidents, and parents may be able to file legal action against them for negligence.