What Are The Safety Issues With Drop-Side Cribs?
- Plastic drop-side hardware can break or warp.
- Some types of soft wood could allow the hardware to come loose faster.
- Many parents install the drop side upside-down, which can increase wear on hardware.
- Drop side pieces go missing over time and the cribs aren't re-assembled properly.
Drop-Side Crib Recalls
According to CPSC's recall archives, more than 20 different crib recalls have been issued since 2007. These recalls have affected more than 4 million cribs, from many different manufacturers. 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. Cribs are often taken apart and stored for a while between babies. When a drop-side 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 is working to address issues with drop-side cribs and to strengthen crib safety standards in general. CPSC Chairman Nancy Nord warned parents in Oct. 2008 about the dangers of re-assembling cribs or buying older, used cribs. In Nov. 2009, new CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said the agency would write new crib safety regulations within the next few months.
International standards-setting group ASTM received a proposal from their cribs subcommittee to ban the manufacture of drop-side cribs. Some subcommittee members felt it was too difficult to address the re-assembly issues or misuse of drop-side cribs in any new safety standards. New crib safety standards were approved in Nov. 2009 and are expected to be announced soon. According to Canada.com, the new standards do not allow for movable side rails. In other words, drop-side cribs are officially out. Many crib manufacturers look to ASTM's voluntary safety standards when making their cribs.
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
Any ban on drop-side cribs would likely only apply to new cribs, so it won't suddenly become illegal to have a drop-side crib in 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. Do not try to repair a recalled crib on your own.
- 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 horizontal bar through the crib's side, created by the drop gate, can give industrious toddlers a foothold for climbing out, though. For now, I think the best option is a stationary crib with no moving sides or gates.
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.
