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Drop-Side Cribs Banned Due to Safety Issues

by: Lindsay Hutton The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission has voted to ban drop-side cribs from being manufactured or sold. Find out how this will affect your family, and what you need to do to keep your child safe.

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The dangerous statistics

Drop-Side Cribs Banned Due to Safety Issues Amidst numerous recalls, safety concerns, and reports of 37 infant deaths between November 2007 and April 2010, the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has voted unanimously to ban drop-side cribs.

The new ban will likely take effect by June 2011, and will prohibit any drop-side cribs from being manufactured or sold.

In addition to eliminating drop-side cribs from the marketplace, the CPSC also voted on new regulations for the quality and durability of the wood, hardware, and mattress supports used in crib manufacturing--standards that will render many cribs in the country as not up to code.

Although drop-side cribs have been around for decades, more than 9 million have been recalled since 2007, according to the CPSC. Malfunctioning hardware and poor assembly can cause the drop-side to fall and create a dangerous gap that infants and toddlers can fall into and become stuck. In some cases, children have died from suffocation and strangulation.

by: Lindsay Hutton

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The effects of the banAlthough these regulations are considered a positive step toward child safety, some consumers and businesses may feel a strain on their budget as they scramble to replace their old cribs.

The ban doesn't just target the manufacturers--retailers will be unable to sell any of the affected cribs they already have in stock, and second-hand stores will also be prohibited from accepting and reselling any donated cribs that do not meet the new standards.

Hotels, motels, and childcare facilities will have up to 18 months after the ban takes effect to replace old cribs with newer, up-to-code models. This extended time period was given to ensure enough new models will be available to replace the older ones, and will give businesses time to budget in the cost of replacing their old cribs.

So what should parents do? The Juvenile Products Association, which represents most of the crib industry, assures parents that most cribs that are assembled correctly and have not been recalled are safe to use. The CPSC recommends that parents currently using drop-side cribs inspect them to ensure all the parts are working properly, and to check the CPSC website to make sure their model hasn't been recalled. .

For more the most up-to-date recall information, visit our Children's Products and Toy Recalls page.