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Crib Safety, Guidelines & Regulations Resource
6 Tips For A Safe Crib
- Never place pillows, comforters, thick quilts or stuffed animals in a baby's crib, bassinet, or playard.
- Make sure your crib mattress snugly fits your crib by checking the gap between the mattress and the crib. No more than two fingers should be able to fit between.
- Follow crib assembly instructions carefully and make sure every part is installed correctly. Call the manufacturer for assistance if needed. Don't guess!
- Do not use cribs older than 10 years or cribs that are broken or that have been modified. Infants can strangle to death if their bodies fall between loose or broken slats while their heads remain entrapped.
- Set up play yards carefully according to manufacturer's directions. Only use the mattress pad provided with the play yard and never add extra padding.
- Never place a crib near a window with blinds, curtain cords or baby monitor cords. Babies can strangle on cords.
"The vast majority of deaths associated with an unsafe sleep setting are caused by a combination of extra bedding and placing the baby to the bed on his/her stomach."
http://www.cpsc.gov/info/cribs/index.html
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Blog article: Guide to Crib Safety for Child Care Centers >>
The New Standards for Child Care Providers
Beginning December 28, 2012, any crib (full-size & non full-size) provided by child care facilities and family child care homes must meet new and improved Federal Safety Standards! The new standards take effect for manufacturers, retailers, importers and distributors on June 28, 2011. These new standards address deadly hazards previously seen with traditional drop-side rails, requires more durable hardware and parts and mandates more rigorous testing.
What you should know..
- Immobilizing your current crib will not make it compliant.
- You cannot determine compliance by looking at the product.
- The new standards apply to all full-size and non full-size cribs including wood, metal, and stackable.
- If you purchase a crib prior to the June 28, 2011 effective date and you are unsure if it meets the new federal standard, CPSC recommends that you verify the crib meets the standard by asking for proof.
What you should do..
- All child care facilities, family child care homes, and places of public accommodation must prepare to replace their current cribs with new compliant cribs before December 28, 2012.
- Do not resell, donate or give away a crib that does not meet the new crib standards
- Dispose of older, noncompliant cribs in a manner that the cribs cannot be reassembled and used.
- CPSC recommends disassembling the crib before discarding it.
To find more information on the new regulations visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website. You can also download the CPSC Guide to New Crib Standards.
Who the new regulations apply to:
- Child Care Facilities
- Child Care Homes
- Public Residential Facilities
- Church owned or operated child care if care is provided for a fee
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the New Crib Standard?
On December 28,2012 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission implemented new crib safety standards for all full size and compact cribs. In addition to eliminating drop-sides, they require extensive new structural and labeling requirements. Under the new guidelines no cribs may remain in a child care center after December 28, 2012 that are not compliant to the new standards.
Do I Really Have To Replace All The Cribs In My Child Care Center?
All wood and steel cribs not compliant to the new guidelines must be replaced.
How Do I Know If My Cribs Are Compliant?
The easiest way to know if your cribs meet the new standards is to request a Certificate of Compliance from the manufacturer. Any cribs made prior to December of 2010 is most likely not compliant. Manufacturers were no longer able to sell noncompliant cribs as of June 28, 2011
What Should I Do With My Old Non-compliant Cribs?
Non-compliant cribs must be destroyed so they can no longer be used, donated or sold. The best thing to do is to disassemble the crib prior to throwing it out.