Are drop gate cribs safe?
The CPSC created new crib standards with the Consumer Product Safety Act of 2008. 4 Aside from making it illegal to make or sell drop–gate cribs, the act set forth other key points to consider: Unlike before, repair kits or immobilizer components to drop-side kits are not allowed. There must be rigorous testing for crib safety.
How tall should the drop gate be on a crib? If the crib has a drop gate (which is different from the banned drop side), the crib side should be at least 9 inches above the mattress support when the gate is in the lowered position. This is to prevent the infant from falling out. Paint should not be cracked or peeling.
Why are drop side cribs not safe to use? The screws, bolts, pegs on the plastic drop-side can warp or break. It’s not easy to install the drop-side rails properly which lead to functionality error. Softwoods used to make the hardware become loose. Sometimes, the drop-side pieces of the crib can go missing and without noticing you may misassemble it.
How many people have died from drop side cribs? If you do some research about the issue, you will find that at least 32 confirmed deaths happened since 2000 just for the drop-side cribs. Because of the structural faulty design, drop-side cribs create a gap between the crib mattress and the drop-sides.
Why are drop side cribs less structurally sound? Softwoods used to make the hardware become loose. Sometimes, the drop-side pieces of the crib can go missing and without noticing you may misassemble it. In addition to the above-mentioned points, drop-side cribs are less structurally sound than the fixed side cribs.
How tall should the corners of a crib be?
How tall should the corners of a crib be? Do not use sleep positioners. According to CPSC, any crib corner posts should be less than 1/16th inch high to avoid clothing being snagged, and crib slats should have no more than 2 3/8 inches between them. 6 There shouldn’t be headboard or footboard cutouts.
What does it mean to have a drop side crib? A drop side crib refers to when a crib has a side that slides down to give you better access to the baby. The sliding makes it easy to reach for the baby. Parents won’t need to reach into the crib or struggle to get hold of the baby. This is also great for when the baby is sleeping as you can simply place the child into the crib.
When was drop side rails required in cribs? Whether buying a new crib or borrowing a used one, make sure it was made after 1989, which is the year crib safety standards were implemented. New crib requirements from the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2011 prohibits the sale of drop-side rails in cribs.
When to lower the height of your baby’s crib? Your baby’s crib should be lowered by half a notch, or even an entire notch, once they’re able to sit up (5). This usually happens between 5 and 8 months of age. Once your baby can pull up on their own you should adjust the mattress to its lowest setting for your baby’s safety.