What Are The Safety Issues With Drop-Side Cribs?
Some drop-side cribs are poorly made, so the problems can start right from manufacturing. Flimsy hardware can wear out quickly, allowing the drop side to come loose and creating a gap where a baby could become entrapped. Some types of cheap, soft wood can allow the hardware to come loose faster. Manufacturing issues with drop-side cribs could be addressed through stiffer federal safety regulations that specify the right kind of sturdy hardware or other materials.
Drop-Side Crib Recalls
The manufacturing-related crib issues aren't linked to just a handful of brands, either. Recalls have been issued for almost a dozen crib brand names in the last two years. More than twenty different crib recalls have been issued since 2007. These recalls have affected more than 4 million cribs. Five babies have died in the recalled cribs in the last two years. While the specific reasons for recall vary, nearly all of the recalls were issued because a durability or hardware problem created a gap in the crib where a child could become entrapped or suffocate.
Owners Can Contribute To Drop-Side Crib Safety Issues
Drop-side cribs have safety problems that can't be addressed during manufacturing, too. A big problem with drop-side cribs comes when they are taken apart and stored for a while between babies. When the crib is re-assembled a few years later, missing hardware, loosened screws or bolts, or assembly errors can all contribute to a drop-side coming loose. Similarly, when cribs are sold at garage sales or thrift shops, parts may be missing or a lack of assembly instructions can allow errors to happen when it's time to put the used crib together.
Crib Safety Standards May Change
The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has held meetings recently to address issues with drop-side cribs and to discuss strengthening crib safety standards in general. While no decisions have been made yet, CPSC has made it clear that crib safety is a priority. CPSC Chairman Nancy Nord also warned parents in Oct. 2008 about the dangers of re-assembling cribs or buying older, used cribs.
Another standards-setting group, ASTM, is also considering a proposal to ban the manufacture of drop-side cribs. The proposal was submitted by ASTM's cribs subcommitee. One of the reasons for suggesting a ban on drop-side cribs is because some subcommittee members felt it would be too difficult to address the re-assembly issues or misuse in the safety standards. Many crib manufacturers look to ASTM's safety standards when making their cribs, but these standards are voluntary.
Toys R Us Will No Longer Order Drop-Side Cribs
In April 2009, Toys R Us announced that its stores would no longer order drop-side cribs because of the safety issues they present. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Toys R Us Chief Executive Jerry Storch said, "There are enough concerns raised about drop-side cribs that we're moving forward and we're going to phase them out." While Storch said he doesn't believe all newer drop-side cribs are dangerous, the length of time that parents keep cribs makes a difference in terms of safety.
Will Your Drop-Side Crib Be Affected
If a ban on drop-side cribs were to be issued, it would likely only apply to new cribs, so it won't suddenly become illegal to have a drop-side crib in your baby's nursery. However, from a safety standpoint, it's a good idea to do some double checking, since it's clear that some of the safety issues with drop-side cribs come from the consumer end.
- Check the CPSC website to see if your baby's crib has been recalled. Get a repair kit or exchange the crib if it is under recall.
- Make sure that your baby's crib is assembled correctly and works properly.
- Check crib hardware periodically to be sure it hasn't loosened, broken or gone missing.
- Steer clear of used cribs. If you do buy a used crib, be certain all of the hardware and parts are included, and find an instruction book if there isn't one with the crib.
- If you're buying a new crib, buying one with stationary sides is probably best until new safety standards are issued.
What Other Crib Options Are Available?
Though drop-side cribs are incredibly popular, they aren't the only cribs on the market. You can still choose cribs with stationary sides to avoid the safety issues with moving parts altogether. Some crib manufacturers are already moving towards making only stationary side cribs, with or without the drop-side cribs ban. Some parents are concerned that they won't be able to reach into a stationary side crib, particularly if they're very short. Cribs with a lower front rail may be a good choice in that case.
Another available crib type is the drop-gate crib, where a part of the crib side folds down to allow as much access as a drop-side crib would. The hardware and mechanism in a drop-gate crib is simpler than a drop-side crib, though, so there isn't as much risk of mis-assembly or of the hardware failing and posing a serious safety problem. The drop-gate crib's moving parts also don't extend down next to baby's sleeping space, so there's less risk that a hardware failure could create an entrapment hazard. Drop-gate cribs are not as widely available as drop-side cribs or stationary side cribs, though. Drop-gate cribs also present their own potential safety hazard. The horizontal bar created by the folding gate portion can give industrious older babies a foothold for climbing out.
As safety standards groups and crib manufacturers try to figure out how to make baby's crib a safer place to sleep, we may also see some interesting changes in crib design. In the Wall Street Journal article on drop-side cribs, a Toys R Us product safety expert said some cribs might end up with shorter legs, so it's easier to reach inside to pick up baby.
