Several crib recalls from various manufacturers, including one announced July 15, 2010 from Pottery Barn Kids, have prompted the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to offer new standards for the cribs. The new safety standards would apply to full-size and non-full-size cribs, and would prevent the manufacture of cribs which move up and down along one entire side. These new standards would essentially prohibit drop-side cribs as they are currently known.
Drop-Side Crib Safety Issues
Common safety issues over the last several years have included problems mainly with drop-side cribs, which have been found to trap children between the mattress and the side. This entrapment has, in some cases, caused children to suffocate, get stuck, or even fall out of the crib.
The CPSC was appointed by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 to provide standards for infant and toddler products. The proposed update in standards for cribs includes a major modification in how cribs are tested. Right now cribs are tested for use with fully tightened screws.
Over time, however, the screws tend to loosen up. The new safety rules would require that crib manufacturers test the screws without re-tightening them, which would better mimic the actual use that a crib gets over time. As parents move drop-side cribs up and down several times daily over a couple years to get their child in and out, the screws loosen and the crib gets wear and tear. These two conditions are ripe for the accidents that have been reported over the last several years.
New Standards for Non-Full Size and Full-Size Cribs
For non-full size cribs, the CPSC would like to apply more of the standards that the full-size cribs currently have in terms of testing. These would include special tests on mattress performance support and side-impact safety.
The CPSC works closely with ASTM International (which stands for American Society for Testing and Materials) to ensure that cribs are designed with safety in mind. The ASTM develops guides that help companies develop products that are beautiful in design yet manufactured with safety in mind.
The new standards proposed by CPSC were approved by ASTM and other product experts that the CPSC works with on June 1, 2010. The CPSC is working to finalize these standards and make them mandatory sometime in 2010. Consumers can get updates on all recalls and announcements from the CPSC by subscribing to their mailing list, or by logging on to their website.
Cherie Burbach - Cherie Burbach writes about dating, relationships, health, sports, and lifestyle. She's the author of eleven books and ebooks.
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