Nursery Product-Related Injuries Treated in United States Emergency Departments

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine the epidemiology of injuries associated with nursery products among young children treated in US emergency departments. METHODS: Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System were retrospectively analyzed for patients aged <3 years who sustained an injury associated with a nursery product from 1991 through 2011. RESULTS: An estimated 1 391 844 (95% confidence interval, 1 169 489–1 614 199) nursery product–related injuries among children aged <3 years were treated in US emergency departments during the 21-year study period, averaging 56.29 injuries per 10 000 children. The annual injury rate decreased significantly by 33.9% from 1991 to 2003, followed by a significant increase of 23.7% from 2003 to 2011. The decrease was driven by a significant decline in baby walker/jumper/exerciser-related injuries; the increase was driven by a significant increase in concussions and closed head injuries. Nursery product–related injuries were most commonly associated with baby carriers (19.5%), cribs/mattresses (18.6%), strollers/carriages (16.5%), or baby walkers/jumpers/exercisers (16.2%). The most common mechanism of injury was a self-precipitated fall (80.0%), and the most frequently injured body region was the head or neck (47.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Although successful injury prevention efforts with baby walkers led to a decline in nursery product–related injuries from 1991 to 2003, the number and rate of these injuries have been increasing since 2003. Greater efforts are warranted to prevent injuries associated with other nursery products, especially baby carriers, cribs, and strollers. Prevention of falls and concussions/closed head injuries associated with nursery products also deserves special attention.