Parents of young children use nursery products daily but these products are associated with injury more often than you might think. A new study from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that about every 8 minutes in the U.S., a child three years of age or younger is treated in a hospital emergency–department for a nursery product–related injury – which is approximately 66,000 children each year.

The study, published online by the journal Pediatrics, looked back over 21 years of data from January 1991 through December 2011. During the early years of the study there was a significant decline in injuries, which was attributed to a decrease in injuries from baby walkers. In the last 8 years of the study, however, the number of nursery product–related injuries steadily increased, rising nearly 25 percent (23.7%).

"We have achieved great success in preventing baby walker–related injuries by improving the design of the product and instituting better safety standards" said Gary Smith, MD, DrPH, the senior author of the study and director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital. "We now need to aggressively apply this approach to other nursery products. It is unacceptable that we are still seeing so many injuries to young children from these products."

The nursery product–related injuries seen in the study were most commonly associated with baby carriers (20%), cribs/mattresses (19%), and strollers/carriages (17%). These injuries typically (88%) occurred at home, and most (80%) were due to a fall. The majority of the injuries were to the head, face or neck (81%).

"Many of the injuries associated with nursery products are to the head or face" said Tracy Mehan, manager of translational research at the Center for Injury Research and Policy. "For children this young, these can be quite serious. Of particular concern was the increase in the number and rate of concussions in recent years."

There are some things families can do to help keep their children safer while using these products. Researchers recommend that parents and caregivers follow the 4 Rs – do your research, check for recalls, register the product, and read the manual.