December 16, 2010 (by Horatio Algren) According to reports the drop side crib is to be outlawed in the United States.
According to a vote by the Consumer Product Safety Commission they have unanimously voted to ban the manufacture, sale and resale of the drop side crib. This is cribs that have side rails that move up and down to allow parents easy access to the infant.
Over the past decade there have been more than 30 deaths of infants and toddlers and millions of cribs recalled.
The new standard for cribs will require having a stationary side and will take effect in June 2011, this will include hotels and child care centers that will be required to purchase new cribs. According to the CPSC they will have a year to replace the cribs.
According to Inez Tenenbaum the CPSC chairman the new standards for cribs comes after the drop side cribs in recent years have caused a danger to infants and toddlers with malfunctioning hardware. Plastics and assembly problems can lead to the drop side rail becoming partially detached creating a V shaped between the mattress and side rail, which can allow the infant to be caught, suffocate or strangle.
Since 2000 there have been at least 32 deaths associated with drop side malfunctions and is suspected in at least 14 more infant fatalities. Over the past five years there have been over 9 million drop side cribs recalled, according to New York Democratic Senator Kirstin Gillibran, who pushed the legislation to outlaw the drop side crib.
Companies that have issued recalls for drop side cribs include Delta Enterprise Corp., Evenflo and Pottery Barn Kids. This has been a public service message from the personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles at Ehline Law Firm. Call now 213.596.9642.