Why drop side cribs are dangerous

As of the end of , day care facilities, hotels, and other businesses with communal cribs were required to use models that complied with these regulations. You might have one in your possession and not even realize it.

If it happens to be under an active recall, you might be able to request a repair kit from the manufacturer or even exchange it altogether.

If you purchase a used crib, ensure it comes with all the original hardware, and locate an instruction manual online if the paper pamphlet is long gone.

There are various ways you can evaluate the safety of your new or used crib:. While using an old drop-side crib might be convenient, its mechanisms pose a significant danger to your infant. You already have too many things to stress about as a parent, and the possibility of a malfunctioning crib should not be one of them.

Go ahead and do a quick check so you and baby can rest easy tonight. Deciding whether your newborn needs a crib or bassinet can be tough. Preparing to welcome a new baby is no small feat! Before stocking up, check out our baby registry checklist to learn what you really need and what's….

This is the hardest thing about recalled or unsafe cribs. While with toys or other products we can recommend taking it away and waiting for the replacement; with cribs, you need a safe place for your baby to sleep — tonight! So, what are your options? Never put a baby to sleep on a couch, chair, adult bed or other surface that might be too soft or have cushions or other features that can smother or entrap a baby.

If your baby is older, perhaps almost ready to transition to a youth bed or regular bed, you might try a mattress on the floor to avoid falls. The only option might be to purchase a new crib or portable crib. If a new safe crib is a financial hardship, consider contacting Keeping Babies Safe or First Candle to see if you qualify for their crib programs. Thanks for contacting us!

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Contact Natalija Use the form below to get in contact with Natalija. Drop-side baby cribs were designed so that one of the sides slides down to allow a caretaker easy access to the baby.

Although the sliding side was intended to help with reaching the baby, this popular crib design turned from convenient to dangerous.

Recalls of the design led to stronger safety regulations that ultimately banned the manufacture of drop-side cribs in Drop-side cribs now cannot be sold or donated. A drop-side rail crib, as the name suggests, is a crib with hardware that enables one side of the crib to lower down.

Some of these cribs designs have two mobile sides instead of just one. Unfortunately, the same mechanisms that allow for the drop-gate's functionality also create a gap that forms between the crib mattress and part of the drop side.

As a result, babies could become trapped and suffocate or get strangled in the gap. The following issues can occur with the drop-side crib design:. The Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC reported in that there were 32 infant and toddler deaths in the decade prior that involved drop-side crib detachments. The same review noted there were also "incidents" with these cribs that numbered in the hundreds. Between and , there were millions of recalls of these harmful cribs.

Now that it's illegal to manufacture, sell, or even donate drop-side cribs in the United States, baby cribs go through a meticulous process in order to meet federal safety standards. The new rules, which apply to full-size and non-full-size cribs, prohibit the manufacture or sale of traditional drop-side rail cribs, strengthen crib slats and mattress supports, improve the quality of hardware, and require more rigorous testing. Aside from making it illegal to make or sell drop-gate cribs, the act set forth other key points to consider:.

Drop-side cribs have been illegal since , and new crib regulations are now in place. It is imperative for parents to be mindful of certain factors when determining crib safety, including:. State and federal legislation is in the works advocating an outright ban on both the sale and use of all drop-side cribs.

Some counties across the country have created their own bans until the federal ban is implemented. The most significant danger concerning drop-side cribs is no longer the purchase of new ones, but the continued use of cribs that may have already, or soon will be, recalled. Individuals may have used the same cribs for years without realizing the deadly hazards they pose. Also, buying cribs second-hand is another area for concern and places like Craigslist and eBay are filled with cheap drop-side cribs.

Understanding the dangers drop-side cribs pose and knowing whether your cribs pose these dangers is crucial in keeping children safe.

Sign Me Up! We will never share or exploit your email address. Drop-Side Cribs Drop-Side Cribs in the News The parents of a 6-month-old boy were devastated after finding that their son had suffocated to death in his drop-side crib. Drop-Side Crib Statistics Parents and caregivers usually breathe a sigh of relief when they place a child inside a crib. Since there have been 11 separate drop-side crib recalls.