BABY BRIEFS
NEWS TIPS & FUN FACTS

Shopping for a crib? Be aware that cribs with unmovable sides are once again going to be the norm – for important safety reasons.

compiled by Parent USA City staff

A ban in December 2010 on cribs that feature a side rail which moves up and down comes after the deaths of at least 32 babies and numerous product recalls in the past decade. The Consumer Product Safety Commission prohibits the resale, sale, or manufacture of such cribs.

Though drop-side cribs have been popular for many years, safety issues surfaced more than 10 years ago. Problems with assembly and hardware caused some drop-side rails to partly detach from the crib, causing a gap between the rail and mattress, according to the CPSC. Some infants and toddlers were trapped and suffocated.

If your child parenting agenda includes purchasing and/or setting up a new baby crib, read these tips provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics before you buy:

• When purchasing a crib, look for Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) certification.

• Make sure slats are no more than 2-3⁄8 inches apart. This will help protect your baby because his or her head won’t have room to get trapped.

• Check to see that joints and parts fit tightly, and the wood is smooth and free of splinters.

• Check for cracked and peeling paint. Surfaces should only be covered with lead-free paint.

• Don’t purchase a crib with decorative cutouts. Cutout areas on panels can trap an infant’s head.

• Make sure all hardware, including screws, bolts, nuts and plastic parts are the original hardware. Never substitute original parts with something from a hardware store.

• Do not use the crib if there are any missing, damaged, or broken parts of the crib.

• Ensure the mattress is the same size as the crib so there are no gaps to trap arms, legs or the body. If you can fit more than two fingers between the mattress and the side of the crib, the mattress should not be used with the crib.

 

© Photo by Olga Bogatyrenko | Dreamstime.com