Drop-Side Crib Ban Will Help Keep Children Safe

"The NYS Consumer Protection Board (CPB) is today commending the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for voting to ban the manufacture, sale and resale of drop-side cribs.

"The CPSC's action today follows the enactment of a New York law that banned the manufacture, sale and importation of drop-side cribs within the State effective October 28, 2010. The CPSC's nationwide ban will take effect in June 2011.

"Drop?side hardware is prone to break or deform during normal use, which can allow the drop side to detach from the crib in one or more corners. If an infant or toddler moves into the space created by a partially detached drop side, the child can become entrapped or wedged between the mattress and the railing and suffocate. Infants can also strangle in the "V" shape formed by a drop side that detaches in an upper corner.

"Tragically, drop-side detachments in cribs made by various manufacturers have caused or been related to 32 infant and toddler suffocation and strangulation deaths, as well as hundreds of additional incidents.

"Despite the ban on new drop-side cribs entering the marketplace, parents and caregivers must remain vigilant. Many older drop?side cribs are still in use, and some may even be sold at second?hand stores, yard sales and other sites. Older cribs subjected to wear and tear are more vulnerable to mechanical failure. Repeated assembly and disassembly increases the likelihood that crib parts can be damaged or lost.

"Because so many drop-side cribs are still in use, the CPB will continue to alert parents and caregivers to the potential hazards. For more information on crib safety, including the CPB's special consumer advisory on drop-side cribs, visit www.nysconsumer.gov."