The new federal rules updating the nation’s crib safety standards are now in effect. Under the new rules, which the US Consumer Product Safety Commission established:
- Drop-side cribs can no longer be manufactured or sold. With at least 32 infants dying from strangulation or suffocation while in a drop-side crib, these child sleepers have proven too dangerous to use let alone make or sell.
- Slat strength and mattress support must meet tougher standards.
- Crib hardware must be more durable
- Safety testing has to be more rigorous
Any company that sells or makes cribs must meet the new standards beginning
today. Crib rental companies, day care centers, and hotels, however, have
until December 28, 2012 to be in compliance. Unfortunately, just because
the new rules are in effect doesn’t mean that there won’t
be children who may get hurt because of existing cribs with defects. If
this does happen, you should speak with an experienced products liability
law firm immediately.
Some crib hazards that have given cause for concern:
- Drop-sides detaching or dropping without warning
- Too big of an opening created between the side of a crib and the mattress
- Crib slats coming loose
This is the first time in almost three decades that the US government has
updated its crib safety standards. The decision to make this change follows
the recalls of some 11 million cribs since 2007 that posed strangulation,
suffocation, entrapment, and/or fall hazards to infants and toddlers.
Even the big manufacturers, such as Delta, Simplicity, and Evenflo have
recalled cribs.
As a parent or guardian, there are proactive steps you can take to make
sure that a crib is safe:
- Check the crib to make sure there are no parts missing or loose.
- Make sure that the mattress fits the crib correctly.
- If you are staying at a hotel or leaving your child at day care check to make sure that the cribs they use are not drop-side cribs or ones that have other crib defects.
Crib safety standards expanded, Crib Safety Standards, June 28, 2011
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008
Contact our child injury lawyers to request your free case evaluation.
