Drop-Side Crib Ban Goes Into Effect

The CPSC halts the production and sale of dangerous drop-side cribs

An example of a typical drop-side crib

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a ban on drop-side cribs yesterday.

After millions of drop-side crib recalls and the deaths of more than 30 infants and toddlers since 2000, the CPSC unanimously voted to prohibit the manufacture, distribution and resale of the cribs.

According to the Associated Press, the new crib safety standards will require all cribs to have fixed sides by June 2011. Hotels and childcare centers will be prohibited from using drop-side cribs, but these facilities will have a year to purchase replacement cribs.

Drop-side cribs have become a child safety issue in recent years due to assembly problems and malfunctioning hardware that caused drop-side rails to partially detach from the cribs. This malfunction would sometimes create a gap between the side rail and mattress where an infant’s head could get trapped.

The AP goes on to say that new crib safety standard also mandates tougher safety testing for cribs. Cribs will now be tested keeping in mind that as children grow and become more adventurous, they will subject their cribs to more rigorous physical force.

Parents should immediately cease using their drop-side cribs and check with the CPSC to see if their crib model is on the child safety recall list. If your crib has been recalled, the CPSC will inform you of the necessary measures you need to take to get a refund or replacement crib.

As a child safety advocate, reading this news was a great way to start out my Thursday. Let’s hope that this development means the CPSC is on the way to banning traditional crib bumpers.

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Ken Levinson is a Chicago-based child injury attorney and child safety advocate. If your child has been injured or worse, please call Ken Levinson at Joseph, Lichtenstein and Levinson at 312-346-9270 or e-mail ken@thesafestline.com. Although based in Chicago, Ken works on child injury cases across the country. If your child has been injured by a Seattle Bike Supply Redline bicycle contact Ken immediately.

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