Consumer Product Safety Commission gives drop-side cribs official thumbs down

For decades, a large number of United States moms and dads put their babies in drop-side baby cribs because they were cheap and gave mothers and fathers quick access to their kid. That end has come to an official close, accounts the Associated Press. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has voted to prohibit the manufacture, sale and reselling of drop-side cribs within the U.S., largely because there have been millions of units recalled and over 30 infants and toddlers have passed away in drop-side cribs since 2000. People might now have to take out a pay day loan to purchase a higher quality and legal crib for their infant.

Anti drop-side cribs rule takes effect June 2011

Drop-side cribs will be prohibited for private use, also as in hotels and childcare centers. A year following the June 2011 ban starts, non-drop side cribs can have to be replaced. This is for all childcare centers.

The danger drop-side cribs present

Cheaper wood and plastic is used in most drop-side cribs. Numerous like this because it is cheaper. Hardware malfunction related to design and cheap materials can cause the drop-side crib rail to partially detach, creating a gap in which an infant or toddler’s head can become caught. Since 2000, there have been at least 32 U.S. infants and toddlers strangled or suffocated because of this when the drop side crib has caused at least 14 more fatalities. The CPSC has been considering a drop-side crib ban for a while.

There are 9 million drop-side cribs being recalled from the last five years that come from companies like Evenflo, Delta Enterprise Corp. and Pottery Barn Children.

Standard ‘one of the strongest within the world’ for United States cribs

According to CPSC Chair Inez Tenenbaum, the newest United States regulation of drop-side cribs is among one of the most stringent in the world. Larger and stronger children will be safer in cribs while pushing or shaking them after new testing standards catch manufacturing defects. Better labeling to ensure that parents don’t incorrectly assemble cribs will even be instituted. In total, the new standard will "help to ensure that young children rest more safely," Tenenbaum said following the CPSC vote.

Articles cited

About.com

babyproducts.about.com/od/sleepbedding/a/drop_side_cribs_safety.htm

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/40678788/ns/politics/from/toolbar

Do you know what Canada knows about drop-side cribs?

youtube.com/watch?v=eMKcIumVM2Q