Crib safety is an important issue, and the government hasn't updated standards since before Frankie said to "Relax" - and that was 1982. Image from Wikimedia Commons.
After a series of recalls and a number of deaths, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is mulling over whether or not to ban “side cribs,” a popular infant product. It comes on the heels of a recall of Pottery Barn Kids, and a large number of their drop-side crib products. The cribs in question have a small chance of accidentally strangling or smothering an infant if hardware fails and the side of the crib detaches. A broad swath of child safety equipment has been recalled over the last few years, including high chairs, cribs, and other products.
Pottery Barn Recall
Recently, a recall of all Pottery Barn Kids drop side crib models, irrespective of model number, began. According to the Associated Press, there were reports beginning to pour in citing faulty manufacturing, leading to injury and possible death by asphyxiation. The side of the crib which raises or lowers can partially detach, creating a gap which can trap an infant that rolls over into it, smothering them or choking them to death in the worst case scenario. The reasons cited for the side of the cribs malfunctioning are both improper assembly by parents and sub-par manufacturing materials.
Defective cribs are a killer
According to Business Week, the CPSC has recorded over 150 deaths in cribs since November of 2007, 65 of which were due to strangulation. However, the Pottery Barn Kids drop side cribs didn’t cause any of them. The cribs in question caused seven injuries after 36 incidents of detaching. Pottery Barn Kids was ordered to recall 82,000 drop side cribs, but it appeared to be the last straw. The U.S. CPSC voted 5-0 to ban drop side cribs of all kinds. They can’t be sold in stores, and they can’t be used in hotels, day care centers, or anywhere else.
Latest unsafe product used to keep kids safe
Drop side cribs have been sold for decades, and they’re popular because the side can be lowered. The idea is that they are easier to use than a traditional crib. The last time that crib standards were updated was 1982. This isn’t the first, and won’t be the last, child safety product to be recalled, as high chair recalls, booster seat recalls and car seats have all had defective models in the past.
Further Reading
Business Week: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-07-14/u-s-to-ban-drop-side-cribs-in-infant-safety-overhaul.html
Associated Press: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jweNjxx-ABQBmCMgm6A88Dj2B10gD9GV0QE00
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