Rock-A-By-Baby:Government Sets New Safety Standards For Cribs

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By Mia Bolaris-Forget

It’s something most of us fear to even think of, never mind utter out loud…it’s the potential threat to our child or children’s safety, but the dangers can be very frightening and very real. And, crib death can be among these top concerns and fears.

When most of us think of crib death…we think of sudden infant death syndrome…or the sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant during sleep. Now the media is raising concerns about the safety of actual cribs and their potential dangers to infants. In fact, starting this week the rules and regulations for the sale of cribs just got a whole lot more rigid.

As of June 27th the government banned the production and sales of drop-side cribs and is making it a must for all sides to be fixed and unmovable. If you currently own a drop-side crib, you can still use it, but are urged to check the crib frequently to ensure proper assembly and to check for any loose or broken parts. If you can afford to get a new one, experts suggest you do.

They note that while a newer crib may be costly, it pails in comparison to the price you risk paying should something happen to your child.

These new rules are among the most stringent safety crack-downs in the baby market in recent years. They spur from a series of drop-side cribs linked fatalities of at least 32 infants since 2000. The moveable sides, it was revealed, were often broken or improperly put together. They resulted in gaps between the mattress and the crib-side where babies were able to get caught and trapped. Other infants died as a direct result of faulty or defective hardware. In just the last 4 years the CPSC issued a recall of more than 11 million hazardous cribs.

The new regulations extend well beyond just drop-sides. In fact, they deem most “modern” cribs unacceptable and unsafe, failing to meet the new set standards. Under the new rules, crib makers are required to strengthen and secure slats and mattress supports; include anti-loosening devices to keep hardware from loosening or falling off. In the past, government standards allowed for manufacturers to go in and make proper adjustments during tests that simulated how cribs were affected when shaken by baby. Now, however, cribs will have to pass inspection without any adjustments.

These new laws make it illegal to not only sell but to also donate a crib that doesn’t meet the new safety tests and standards. Day care centers, hotels, and companies that rent cribs will be given until the end of 2012 to update and upgrade. Parents may want to double check when dealing with any of these facilities.

Long Island Safety Articles > Rock-A-By-Baby:Government Sets New Safety Standards For Cribs