Has a product you’ve taken while pregnant resulted in complications with your baby? Defective products are incredibly dangerous and can even result in birth defects if mothers are unaware that consuming something is dangerous for their children.
For context on how significant defective products are, 11.7 million Americans visited the ER for injuries from defective products in 2021 alone. This means that the risk of a defective product is significant, and you must stay constantly informed to avoid harming yourself or your child safely.
Defective products have also been linked to cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Let’s look at this connection now to understand better if a defective product may have resulted in your child’s autism.
Acetaminophen and Tylenol
The most relevant concern with autism and defective products involves the consumption of acetaminophen, specifically Tylenol.
Acetaminophen is a medication typically used to ease pain and reduce fever symptoms. It is incredibly common and effective at treating minor aches and pains that aren’t generally serious.
As you might expect, this can be quite helpful when pregnant to ease any physical discomfort. The problem is that acetaminophen exposure may not be safe for infants.
While it is not fully conclusive yet, some studies have indicated that acetaminophen exposure has resulted in a higher likelihood of a child developing conditions like ASD and attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder (ADHD) compared to mothers who did not take acetaminophen during pregnancy.
This is particularly scary because Tylenol and acetaminophen are considered extremely safe, even during pregnancy. As a result, any complications they may cause can turn them into defective products. A class action lawsuit is in progress that you may be able to join if your child has ASD and you regularly ingested Tylenol during your pregnancy.
Even though it has yet to be officially announced, finding an alternative to acetaminophen during pregnancy is highly recommended to protect your child.
Dangerous Baby Food
The other primary concern of defective products and ASD is dangerous to baby food. Specifically, baby food that contains toxic metals.
While baby foods are meant to be safe for consumption, federal regulations are not strong, and there are very few standards for toxic metals. This means that baby food has an especially high risk of being unsafe.
The specific brands that have caused concern include Gerber, Beech-Nut, Sprout Foods, Walmart/Parent’s Choice, HappyBABY, Earth’s Best Organic, and Campbell Plum. These brands have been shown to contain upwards of five to ten times the acceptable levels of toxic metals.
While toxic metals can be found in minor amounts in most foods, these are safe levels and do not cause issues. Alternatively, food with extra high toxic metal levels is dangerous because it can impair the ability to learn, think, and act, which is especially critical for a developing young baby.
With this in mind, ensure you only buy baby food brands that have proven safe. If your child ate any of the problematic brands listed above and has ASD, you might have grounds for a defective product lawsuit.
Avoiding Unsafe Products
If you are pregnant or recently had a child, then ensuring that you only use safe products is essential for the healthy development of your baby.
This comes down to knowing how to avoid unsafe products. You can start by cutting out acetaminophen and steering clear of the hazardous baby food brands mentioned above.
In addition, you should also stay diligent about any news regarding unsafe products. Keep an eye on the news, subscribe to relevant parenting safety blogs, and do extra research before giving something to your kid.
Your child cannot effectively protect themself against the hazards of defective products. Remember that you are their only advocate, and the more you ensure their safety, the less the chances of them experiencing a significant and life-altering health condition like ASD.
Closing Thoughts
Keeping your child safe is your top priority as a parent, but there are risks around every corner that you must be prepared for. Defective products and their ability to affect how your child develops are one concern you must pay close attention to.
Some situations, in particular, have also been linked to increased cases of autism. This includes using acetaminophen (Tylenol) and consuming baby foods high in toxic metals.
As a parent, you deserve to know that a product marketed as safe for kids won’t cause them any harm. When complications occur, you are dealing with a defective product and should consider a product liability lawsuit to recuperate your losses.
