The baby's crib is the center of the nursery, the star of the house's haven. Sadly, if parents are not careful, the crib can also be the most dangerous furniture in the house. Indeed, statistics point to the sad fact that more infants die every year from crib-related causes than from other nursery products. Thus, it is always advisable to keep updated about crib recalls and to ensure that the crib being purchased meets current safety standards. Of course, it also helps to use your common sense when choosing from a bewildering array of cribs in stores and sites.
Crib Recalls
At present, the law does not require manufacturers to test or to secure certification for the safety of their cribs although it must be emphasized that mandatory standards do exist for the baby furniture. As a result, many unsafe cribs still find themselves into stores and sites, with parents none the wiser for it until tragedy strikes. However, cribs nowadays do come with detailed assembly and care instructions as well as warning labels, both of which are required by federal law.
But still even the best crib manufacturer will take a misstep and have their products recalled from the market. The latest and largest of these recalls involves the drop-side cribs manufactured by the Stork Craft Manufacturing based in British Columbia, Canada. Together with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the company recalled a total of 2.1 million units including approximately 147,000 units with the Fisher-Price logo.
In almost all instances of crib recalls, consumers are advised to wait for the free repair kit instead of attempting to fix the problem, DIY-style. Also, you must look for a safer alternative to the recalled crib since continuing its use can lead to infant death.
The reasons for crib recalls vary. It may be that the paint used was lead-based. It may be that the slats were not close enough. It may be that the drop-down hardware was faulty. Whatever the cause, the recall is implemented to prevent more deaths among infant users.
Crib Safety
Unfortunately, safety standards for cribs are made up as researchers, manufacturers and parents see the need for them. Or at least, if they had the foresight to plan ahead. Still, this should not prevent parents from purchasing and using cribs based on present safety criteria, which can include:
Slats that are sufficiently spaced such that a little hand cannot pass through it and be stuck. The present standard is at 2 3/8 inches wide slats, which means that a soda can will not be able to pass between them.
Decorative cutouts on the headboard and sides as well as corner post extensions are absent from the crib.
Hardware components are not loose, missing, broken and rusted. This also applies to any protruding parts, sharp points and rough surfaces.
The mattress snugly fits into the crib, with very little - just the size of a finger - space for a little head to be caught in.
The paint used is non-toxic and there are no peeling paints anywhere either.
In conclusion, the safety of our babies often rest on our diligence in making sure that their furniture are not only durable, functional and beautiful but as safe as possible, too.
