New crib safety standards are on their way in the U.S. and worldwide. The new standards are expected to ban the manufacture of drop-side cribs due to problems with hardware and mis-assembly that can lead to injuries or death when the drop side detaches and creates a gap between the mattress and crib. Many crib manufacturers have already started phasing drop-side cribs out of their lines, and some retailers, such as Toys R Us, have stopped ordering them to sell in stores.
According to the Associated Press, CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said the agency has not moved as fast as it should have on new crib safety standards, but "the commission will write regulations in the next few months." She indicated that drop-side cribs would not be allowed in the new standards.
ASTM, the group that creates worldwide voluntary safety standards, is also expected to release new crib safety standards very soon. ASTM's Len Morrissey told Canada.com that the group's latest crib safety standard "no longer contains provisions that allow movable side rails on full-sized cribs."