Citing the suffocation and brain injury deaths of more than 30 babies and toddlers who got tapped between the slats and mattress or fell out of drop side cribs, the members of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously on December 18, 2010, to ban the manufacture, sale and use of the cribs with walls that slide up and down.
You can watch the full video of the CPSC meeting, but a more telling demonstration of the dangers of drop side cribs follows.
The CPSC and manufacturers issued several recalls of drop side cribs over the past three years, so it seemed only a matter of time before the CPSC took the step of outlawing the cribs. Still, with one infant’s death being far too many, the federal regulators’ action seems long overdue.
Any parent, caregiver or day care center still using drop side cribs should inspect them closely to make sure the moveable sides are properly installed and secure. Replacing a drop side crib as soon as feasible is recommended. Protecting the youngest children must be the first priority, and I’m glad that the CPSC stepped up and did so.
EJL