The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted unanimously to approve new mandatory standards for full-size and non-full-size baby cribs. The federal crib standards had not been updated in nearly 30 years and these new rules are expected to usher in a safer generation of cribs.
Effective June 2011, cribs manufactured, sold, or leased in the United States must comply with the new federal standards. New federal standards include a ban on drop-side cribs, increases in the weight that crib slats must support, and changes in mattress and fastening standards.
Effective December 28, 2012, all child care facilities, including family-based care, child care centers and those providers who receive subsidy dollars for child care services must have compliant cribs in their facilities. It is important that providers understand that they must be in compliance with the new federal law on December 28, 2012.
For more information, go the CPSC webpage or call the CPSC Hotline: (800) 638-2772.
All parents are urged to examine this new federal law and to follow and support these mandatory crib standards which will:
(1) stop the manufacture and sale of dangerous, traditional drop-side cribs
(2) make mattress support stronger
(3) make crib hardware more durable
(4) make safety testing more rigorous.
CPSC has recalled more than 11 million dangerous cribs since 2007. Detaching drop-side rails were associated with at least 32 infant suffocation and strangulation deaths since 2000. Additional deaths have occurred due to faulty or defective hardware.
A list of recalled cribs is posted on the CPSC website. If you have a recalled crib please contact the manufacturer who will supply you with a free repair kit. Do not attempt to fix the crib without the kit. Please check your drop side cribs for safety upon every use.