[Caption: A ban on “drop side” cribs may render scenarios like this one obsolete. (Photo courtesy of CPSC)] In response to at least 32 infant deaths caused by “drop-side” cribs, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued stringent new rules for cribs in hotels. As of December 2012, all U.S. hotels and motels must: Remove all drop-side cribs Use cribs with stronger wood, to prevent slat breakage Strengthen mattress supports Use anti-loosening devices to help keep hardware secure The new regulations also affect childcare centers, and places “of public accommodation.” The rules come after a general ban of drop-side cribs on June 28. “I’m pleased that parents, grandparents and caregivers can now shop with confidence,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum in a statement. “The day has come where only stronger and safer cribs are available for consumers to purchase.” Drop-side cribs have a detachable wall that “slides” up and… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Crib Safety
Subscribe to Crib Safety RSS FeedDrop Sided Cribs: Will Saving Your Back Cost Your Child Their Life?
Posted in Crib SafetyWho doesn’t want things to be easier? As a parent, I certainly appreciate anything to make my life easier when it comes to child care. The problem is, when it comes to infants cribs, product manufactures may have taken consumers desire for ease of life a little too far. Since the 1970′s crib manufacturers have added a ‘drop-side’ feature that allows a caregiver to easily access a child by lowering a side of the crib as opposed to using their lower-back for leverage. Some crib manufacturers have begun to cut corners by using cheap components and particle board in the manufacturing process that puts infants in their drop-sided cribs at risk for severe injury or death from entrapment or suffocation. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has responded to steady reports of drop-sided cribs safety issues by recalling a whopping 10 million cribs since 2007. While no firm date has… Continue Reading