Why the CPSC Banned the Drop Side Crib
In December 2010, the drop side crib was officially banned by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Since the product's introduction to the market in 2001, over 32 infants have died due to the inadequate drop side crib design.
The drop side crib is basically an infant bed that features a mattress as well as a drop side feature. The drop side feature is basically one side of the infant bed that can be lowered down in order to help ease the movement of putting down and lifting up the child from the infant bed. The drop side segment of the infant bed should also be able to be raised again in order to keep the infant safe within the perimeters of the bed.
Senator Kirsten Gilibrand who issued the ban has always been a strong supporter of banning the product, further detailing that new federal crib standards will be issued by June 2011. Rumour has it the Gilibrand is also a parent who has lost a child due to the use of the drop side crib.
As of December 2010, all sale, manufacturing, resale and distribution of the drop side crib product were unceremoniously halted. Besides that, new regulations by the CPSC also prohibited the use of the drop side crib in public access areas such as motels, child care facilities and hotels as well.
Besides the banning of the drop side crib, the CPSC also mentions that future baby cribs should be manufactured with stronger mattress supports and that the overall crib structure should be more robust. To ensure better quality of such an important baby equipment, tighter and much more stringent safety features should also be exercised upon baby beds prior to mass manufacturing as well.
A History of Recalls
The reason behind the unanimous decision of banning the drop side crib is obvious as the design had already been under close scrutiny for nearly a decade. Having said that, the process of banning took quite a while as the drop side crib is a popular item with parents across the world due to the drop-side mechanism that allows the guardian easy access to the baby.
Having said that, popularity did nothing to help prolong the lifespan of the drop side crib as over two million cribs were recalled in June 2010. In the past three years alone, a total of eleven million drop side cribs were recalled due to safety issues.
The CPSC Advice to Parents
While it is not illegal to continuously use the drop side crib at home, the CPSC strongly advises that all parents double check to make sure that their crib is fully functional and is not subjected to a product recall. According to the Juvenile Products Association, the modern drop side crib that has been assembled correctly and suffered no product recall should be safe for daily usage.
It is also prudent to note that while the United States have halted all production, advertising and sales on said crib, this has not stopped other countries from producing the product. Shanghai, China in particular is still actively mass producing the crib. It is also prudent to note that China currently has no regulation on the drop side crib so any purchase of overseas baby equipment should be done with extra caution.
Instead of investing in the drop side crib, there are other great infant beds as well such as the converted crib, crib with a sliding panel, fixed rail crib and the classic step stool.
The Converted Crib
This crib is a converted version of the drop side design. Simply fasten your drop side segment of your crib and turn it into a safer fixed-side crib. This way, you will save on having to purchase a new infant bed for your baby. Plenty of U.S. manufacturers are currently offering free fastening kits to their customers as a value-added service.
Sliding Panel Crib
Dropping one segment of the infant bed is now dangerous, but there is nothing wrong with sliding out one panel for easier access to your baby. Best of all, the sliding panel does look pretty futuristic and you will sleep better knowing that your back is not aching and your baby is safe.
Fixed Rail Crib
The fixed rail crib is basically the most traditional infant bed design in the market. The modern day fixed rail crib can also be converted into a toddler bed, which means that it can be used even after your baby has grown into a healthy infant. Today's current design of fixed rail cribs is also so much more ergonomically designed to cater to mothers with weak backs. To solve the problem of bending down or bending over to place or lift up the infant, the crib is built to be lower for easier access to the baby.
The Step Stool
Alternatively, a fixed rail crib can also be used by using a stepping stool to help mothers bend over and reach their children. A step stool is also a much cheaper option and can also be used all over the house as well.
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