Updated Baby Crib Safety Standards Implemented By CPSC
In an effort to ensure the safety of sleeping babies, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced new mandatory regulations for cribs.
These federal restrictions, which went into effect on June 28, 2011, prohibit the manufacture and sale of drop-side baby cribs - cribs that contain a side rail that moves up and down, allowing parents to easily lift their child from their crib. From now on, all cribs sold in the United States must have fixed sides.
According to the CSPC, drop-side cribs have been blamed in the deaths of at least 32
infants and toddlers since 2000. In the past five years, more than 9 million drop-side cribs
have been recalled.
Drop-side crib related deaths typically occur when the side of the crib detaches, causing an infant’s head to become trapped between the mattress and crib side rails, resulting in strangulation or suffocation.
In addition to banning drop-side cribs, the CPSC has also mandated that all cribs now must adhere to new safety standards that include:
- having stronger mattress supports and crib slats
- featuring more durable hardware
- passing rigorous safety tests
Lois Lee, MD, MPH, a Children’s Hospital Boston physician who specializes in emergency pediatric medicine, gives instructions on the safest type of crib on Thriving, the hospital’s pediatric health blog.
Dr. Lee advises that a sleeping baby is safest when placed firmly on its back in a crib with fixed sides and with only a fitted sheet over the mattress. In addition, a baby in a crib should not have excessive blankets, toys or stuffed animals around them, as these items may pose a suffocation threat.
According to the CPSC, parents who currently own drop-side cribs should consult the list of recalled cribs to make sure that their particular model hasn’t been banned. If a particular crib has been banned, parents should try to obtain an immobilizer, a device that is used to secure drop-sides on a crib to prevent potentially dangerous situations. CPSC’s website features a list of companies that are providing immobilizers for their recalled cribs.
These new regulations will also affect the use of cribs in child care centers, hospitals, hotels and other places of public accommodation centers. These facilities have until December 28, 2012 to purchase new cribs.
For more information on the new crib standards and infant sleep safety, please visit: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5030.html
The CPSC’s new crib regulations are of the utmost importance, and parents and care givers will sleep better knowing their babies are being cradled in safety.
The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein- Maine Lawyers Working for Maine People.
