Dangerous Drop-side Cribs Banned

A Wednesday vote of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) led to a total ban on drop-side cribs and additional safety standards for all other types of cribs. The five members of the CPSC voted unanimously in favor of the ban.

Drop-side cribs are constructed with a wall of the crib which slides up and down, allowing a parent to easily pick up an infant without having to lean over the crib walls. However, infants have been easily suffocated when the drop-side fails to stay up and the baby is trapped.

In the period of November of 2007 to April of 2010, thirty-six child deaths were reported involving crib malfunctions. Numerous additional injures were also recorded.

The additional crib standards coming into effect now include higher quality wood, increased support of the mattress, and better quality standards for other crib materials.

The drop-side ban arrives along with the news that Pottery Barn Kids is recalling 80,000 drop-side cribs as a result of multiple child injury incidents.

Final approval of the ban and the new, tougher crib standards will likely come by the end of the year. A standard public comment solicitation period is now open for the next six months.