Improved Crib Safety Rules Start June 28, 2011

     It’s June, and that means that the new federal crib regulations will be enforced in just a few weeks.  As of June 28, 2011, all infant cribs manufactured to be sold in the USA, must meet the new stricter federal safety standards. All infant cribs sold, or resold, in the USA must also comply with the new regulations as of this June deadline. If you are in the market for an infant crib, you’ll want to make sure that you ask the right questions before you make the purchase.   

     The new regulations also effect cribs used in childcare and hotel facilities (private, corporate and in-home), although the timeline for compliance differs.  By December 28, 2012, these types of facilities must use only compliant cribs that meet the new standards. 

Full-size Poster found at:  CPSC

     The heftier standards were developed in response to increasing reports of infant deaths and serious injuries that could be directly connected to a defective or incorrectly assembled crib. In addition to more intense compliance testing steps, sturdier manufacturing requirements were also set in place for crib slats, mattress support systems, and crib hardware.  Both drop-side and stationary, full and non-full size cribs are included in these new standards. 

     You won’t be able tell if the crib is compliant just by looking at it, so you’ll want to be equipped with the right questions to ask before you purchase, or before you leave your infant in the hands of a caregiver. Do the cribs they use comply with 16CFR1219 (full-size crib), or 16CFR1220 (non-full size) federal safety regulations?  You may want to ask them the date that their cribs were purchased, since this could also give you an idea of the likelihood of their compliance.  If they were purchased prior to April or May 2011, you might have some cause for concern.  It would be wise to ask them to show you the test report, or manufacturer Certificate of Conformity, that shows that the cribs comply with either of the federal regs mentioned above.  

     As a consumer who may already have a drop-side crib in your home, you can check the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall site to be sure that your crib has not already specifically been recalled due to a known defect.  The CPSC website will provide you with instructions for replacement of those cribs.

     Very few companies have drop-side crib retrofit kits approved by CPSC, but you can check here to see if your crib’s manufacturer is among them.  However, one important note, even adding this retrofit kit to your crib does not bring it into full compliance with the new regulations. Therefore, if you decide to continue to use this crib, be sure to check the crib regularly.

Tips for in-home crib maintenance might include:

·  All hardware is secure and tight (check the bottom of the crib as well)

·  All connections/joints are secure (including the crib bottom, rails, sides & ends)

·  The drop-side rail works smoothly & locks easily in place when pulled up

·  No chipping or cracking seen on teething rail

·  No cracks or splinters on any of the wood surfaces (accessible or not)

·  Plastic tracks are not be damaged in any way

·  No holes or cracks appear in the mattress or the mattress support board

·  If the crib has see-through end panels, no cracks are present

  

     In the past most cribs were handed down though the generations, or from friend to friend. It has become apparent that this is a very dangerous tradition that should stop! The older the crib is, the more likely it will not meet even the minimal crib safety regulations that are in force today.

 Caregiver vigilance and knowledge about crib safety are both critical factors in keeping infants safe and healthy.

Toy Safety Requires Caregiver Diligence

Two new recalls this morning to keep an eye on:

The first is a linking toy with ball shaped rattle from Rhino Toys.  The yellow clips connecting the links to the ball broke on one (that’s what I said – O-N-E) toy in the hands of the consumer, posing a potential choking hazard.  No injuries were reported.

Sold for about $8 at Toys R Us and other small retailers from April through December 2010. Customers are being asked to take the product away from their child immediately. Contact Rhino Toys (888-250-9969) for a full refund. 

The other is a wooden floor activity center from Manhattan Group.  The small wooden pegs that hold the xylophone keys onto the side panel can fall out, creating a choking hazard for young children.  There has been one (that’s what I said – O-N-E) toy in the hands of the consumer.  No injuries were reported.

Sold for about $90 at specialty retailers and mail order catalogs from December 2010 through February 2011. Customers should stop using the product immediately. Return it to the retailer from which it was purchased, or call Manhattan Group directly (800-541-1345) full refund or replacement.           

    There must have been more going on behind the scenes to allow only one incident to create these recalls.  I say this because the method in which the small part was released was not revealed.   Did the clip break while an infant was slurping on it during normal play, or was something else at work here?  Imagine how much strength it would take for an infant to press both ends of the plastic clip in opposing directs before it would snap.  If this indeed was the case – the Incredibles’ baby is on the loose!  

     But to be serious, if you have older siblings in the home, then carefully consider any toys you give your children, particularly your infant or toddler.  They may not have the strength to break the toys, but big brother certainly might. Wooden Toys are appealing and normally very durable, but they often depend on glue alone for securing small accessories.  When small parts are attached to a toy simply by glue, there is a real damage of that glue drying out over time allowing inquisitive little fingers, to tug and pull it off.  In addition, in wooden toys we often see the “part into hole” connection poorly designed, so very little glue even reaches the end of the part it’s supposed to be holding.   Naturally, any small part that releases from a toddler toy during use goes directly into the mouth and creates a real potential for choking.

TOY SAFETY TIPS:

• Toys that can undergo YOUR manipulation, pulling, bending and tweaking are more likely to be safe for your child.  Test it with your child in mind our before you give it to your child to play with. 

• Also - Check the toy box often for broken toys and remove any that are damaged or look like they are about to break.