May 5, 2014 — Baby gates, one of the most popular child-safety devices, are associated with 1,800 injuries in children per year, and numbers have tripled in the last 20 years, according to a study published by the journal Academic Pediatrics.
Researchers estimated that 37,673 children were treated in an emergency room for injuries involving baby gates, and about 1,794 injuries occurred every year. In 1990, only about 4 injuries occurred per 100,000 children. By 2010, that number had tripled to about 12.5 injuries per 100,000 children.
The majority of injuries involved children under two years old. The most common reason for injury was a child falling down a flight of stairs after a baby gate collapsed. These injuries included soft-tissue injuries, sprains, strains, and head injuries. About 33% were bumps and bruises, 30% were cuts and lacerations, and 16% were traumatic brain injuries.
For children older than two years old, serious injuries most often occurred from contact with the gate or climbing over it. About 55.4% of children had open wounds, and 24.2% had soft-tissue injuries.
The authors of the study recommended against using pressure-mounted baby gates at the top of stairs because they can be pushed over, even by very young children. Instead, use hardware-mounted baby gates that are installed into the doorframe. If possible, baby gates should be removed when a child turns two years old or is old enough to open the gate. It is also a good idea to choose a baby gate without notches that can be used for climbing.
Do I have a Baby Gate Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting baby gate induced injury cases in all 50 states. If your child or somebody you know has been injured, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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