by Amy Spangler
July 16, 2010

It’s unanimous. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted 5–0 in support of new standards to address the dangers posed by cribs—including risks associated with drop sides, mattresses, and slats. The standards are designed to eliminate gaps that allow a baby to fall out of the crib or become entrapped and suffocate.

The CPSC action comes on the heels of an announcement by Pottery Barn Kids that it is recalling more than 80,000 drop-side cribs due to concerns over entrapment, suffocation, falling.

Pending final approval by the federal commission sometime next year, the new standards would ban the sale of drop side cribs, require better mattress support, sturdier hardware, and better quality wood for crib construction.

According to CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, there were 36 crib-related deaths between November 2007 and April 2010. Defective hardware, gaps caused by poor mattress support, and use of inexpensive wood that allows crib slats to easily break are the biggest risk factors in drop-side cribs—factors addressed by the new standards.

The standards will have a rippling effect on manufacturers and retailers, with a spike in demand offset by an inability to sell the cribs already in stock that don’t meet the new standards. Hotels, motels, and child care facilities around the country will be forced to purchase new cribs that, for many, could prove unaffordable given the current economic environment.

“My biggest fear is that day care centers, in particular, will be stuck with no other option but to place babies in play yards or on floor mats—even temporarily—since the purchase of so many new cribs will be quite expensive,” said CPSC Commissioner Anne Northup.

Resellers will also feel the pinch. With people unable to donate cribs that fail to meet the new standards, the supply of used cribs will disappear for some time.

A final vote is expected in December 2010, with the new rules taking effect in the summer of 2011. A public comment period will begin shortly, after which the agency will assess the comments and decide if changes are needed.

In the meantime, the CPSC is asking consumers (parents and caregivers alike) to stop using recalled cribs, inspect the hardware to ensure that it is properly installed and not faulty, and check the mattress for gaps. Given the proven dangers, a play yard or a floor mat may be your best choice until a crib that meets the new safety standards is available and affordable.

Editor’s Note—June 30, 2011
Effective June 28, 2011 sales of drop-side cribs will cease. Newly adopted CPSC rules require importers, distributors, manufacturers, and retailers to halt the manufacture and sale of drop-side cribs; strengthen mattress supports and crib slats; require more durable crib hardware; and ensure rigorous safety testing. Child care facilities, hotels, and rental companies have until December 28, 2012 to comply with the new crib standards. For more information on crib safety, visit CPSC’s crib information center online.