In the United States and Canada, crib manufacturers are governed by safety standards to protect children from injuries, near suffocation and death; yet, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported in February that since 2007, it has recalled almost seven million baby cribs. Of these, more than six million are drop-side cribs. The most recent crib recall was in February 2010.
ASTM International – formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials – is revising guidelines for drop-side cribs and play yards. It aims to introduce tougher guidelines for the manufacture of full-size and non full-size baby cribs by the end of 2010, paying particular focus to the drop-side design.
Drop-Side Crib Standards
Crib manufacturers who meet or exceed voluntary standards set by the ASTM and mandatory regulations set by the CPSC can be certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. Buying a new, JPMA-certified crib offers reassurance that the product meets current standards. Parents are warned that drop-side cribs currently meet these standards.
Drop-side cribs are popular because they allow parents more mobility in lifting babies in and out of bed; however, drop-side cribs have been cited in the majority of crib recalls. While not all brands of drop-side cribs have been recalled, enough have been involved in injuries and deaths of infants to raise concern about the overall safety of the drop-side design.
Buying a Second Hand Crib
With new cribs costing anywhere from $200 to more than $1000, affordability is a legitimate concern for parents struggling to meet the financial demands of preparing for a newborn. This is why hand-me-down, second hand and antique cribs continue to be popular with consumers. However, buying a second hand crib can be risky.
Parents planning to buy a second hand crib should take steps to protect their newborns from known hazards. According to the CPSC Crib Information Centre, these include:
- Missing, loose or broken hardware
- Slats measuring more than 2 3/8 inches apart (approximately the width of a soda can)
- Corner posts that rise more than 1/16 of an inch above the crib sides
- Decorative cut-outs in headboards or footboards that could cause entrapment
- Soft and loose-fitting mattresses (only two fingers should be able to squeeze between the mattress and sides of a crib)
- The absence of labels showing a manufacture date, model number and compliance to standards
- Missing assembly instructions
Crib Recalls
Below is a partial list of major voluntary and involuntary baby crib recalls published by the CPSC. Unsuspecting parents and second hand stores may be continuing to use and resell these cribs. View complete recall details at the CPSC Crib Information Centre:
- Stork Craft Drop-Side Cribs – 1,213,000 units distributed in the U.S. and 968,000 distributed in Canada. Various models sold by major retailers online and in-store between January 1993 and October 2009.
- Various models of Dorel Asia drop-side and non drop-side cribs – 635,000 units. Sold by major retailers from January 2005 through December 2009.
- Models of Simplicity Drop Side Cribs – 400,000 units. Sold by mass retailers between January 2005 and June 2009.
- Delta Enterprise Drop-Side Cribs – 985,000 units. Sold by major retail outlets between January 1995 and September 2007.
- Generation Worldwide and childESIGNS drop side cribs – an estimated 500,000 units. Sold by numerous furniture retailers. Massive recall announced in February 2010.
Assembling a New Crib
A crib can fail to perform as intended when assembled improperly. The CPSC advises parents to contact the crib manufacturer for assistance if they experience difficulty assembling the product, there are loose, missing or leftover parts or the crib doesn't function properly. After successfully assembling a new crib, parents should send in the warranty card or register the product online with the manufacturer if this option exists. Manufacturers will use this information to trace crib owners in the event of a recall.
Before Buying a Crib
The Consumer Reports Crib Guide offers good advice for parents starting out on a search for a new crib. It advocates that parents opt for cribs with stationary sides until more stringent manufacturing guidelines come into effect later in 2010. Expectant parents shopping for used cribs at second hand stores and flea markets should bring the Crib Information Centre News and Recalls list with them.
Cribs aren't the only choice in bedroom furniture for babies. Other newborn bed options include co-sleepers and bassinets and portable cribs. In its Crib Guide, Consumer Reports warns: "Unlike bassinets, cradles, and bedside sleepers, cribs are the only beds for babies that are required to meet federal government mandated standards."
Despite rules and regulations governing crib safety, buyer beware remains the single most important piece of shopping advice for new parents. It is impossible to completely legislate risk out of children's products, but common injuries and catastrophic events can be prevented if parents arm themselves with knowledge of current standards, warnings and recalls before searching for new or second hand baby cribs.
Anne Williams - Anne is a freelance writer and communications consultant based in Vancouver, Canada.
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