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A 9-month-old baby boy was injured after falling from an in-store changing table at a department store in Nagoya on Sunday. Emergency services took the child to hospital unconscious and remains in a critical condition with head injuries, police said.
According to police, the child had been out shopping with a family of five at Aeon Wonder City at the time of the accident which took place at around 6:45 p.m. He had been taken to a third floor baby changing room by his parents and sisters. The baby is believed to have fallen from the 60cm by 80cm table.
Police said the table was 70cm from the ground and did not have sidebars or railings. The floor of the changing room was carpeted.
© Compiled from news reports
13 Comments
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marcels
I have used those baby changing tables quite often in the past, in fuji and Aeon and they are very easy to use and they have stickers on the wall and on the changing table for parents to never keep their eyes off the baby. So who,s fault is it?? negligence from the parents absolutely...
Disillusioned
I'd put my money on the mother leaving the kid on the bed while she went to the can.
sillygirl
i am with you two above on this. have used them, too. there are STICKERS everywhere around these changing beds - sometimes in multiple languages.
Elbuda Mexicano
These parents sound like idiots!
goddog
I bet sister was told to watch the kid and got distracted.
jason6
There are many documented cases of toddlers and children falling several stories without injury, yet this poor baby drops 70cm and cracks his head open. Life is random.
And for baby bed designers: how bout putting some guards around the edges?
NYC_Samurai
Last time we visited the in-laws I was in the airport restroom with my son and saw a man changing a new-born on one of those tables. As we entered I offered him an empathizing smile and went about my business. A few moments later, as my toddler and I were drying our hands at the sink, I realized this father was standing next to me drawing paper towels out of the dispenser. He was at least four full meters from the baby on the table, who was not strapped in. My reflexes almost got the best of me as I was about to jump over to the table and stand guard while this fool tidied himself up. My question is, assuming the ever scrutinizing moderators will permit it, at what point does one intervene in a situation like this?
presto345
I would step in immediately. No need to say anything.
Trapped
Ditto, presto, but not on the latter.
cactusJack
Maybe they could pad the floor with some tumble mats? Maybe making the edge of the table with clear plastic so the child would see the height? In any case, a redesign could improve the survivability of an accidental fall.
seaforte03
I thought most of the changing tables have "seat belts" to strap the toddlers in? Anyway - seatbelt or not - whenever I used these tables - I ALWAYS had one hand resting on our child's stomach - little kids are unpredictable and can suddenly twist, turn, etc.
Commons sense seems lacking amongst many parents - that or they just don't care enough.
sillygirl
i say something immediately yet those parents yell back at me. idiots? i think so.
mintgreen
My baby bucks and kicks like a mule already and he is less than 9 months. Both my wife and I have nearly lost our grip even while firmly holding the kid. Usually we change diapers on the floor, but if we needed to use one of those tables, I could see the baby getting away from us due to our inexperience with the situation.
I would not blame anyone if this happened to me. I could not have predicted my own baby would be this squirmy and kicky. But I would hope the store would learn a lesson and put in softer carpeting and rails on the bed.