All About Crib Recall Information And Models Parents Must Know
Safety should always be your number one priority when it comes to your child. Baby cribs are no exception. It doesn’t matter if your crib was perfect when you bought it for your newborn, sometimes problems are found and recalls occur. You should always stay informed about crib recalls, and any other safety concerns. This will ensure that your child sleeps soundly and safely.
Most cribs have no problems, but some are faulty. These parts or hardware can be dangerous to babies and toddlers. Manufacturers issue recalls to alert consumers about the potential for serious injury associated with certain crib models.
The Crib Info Center of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission provides up-to-date information on crib recalls, product safety and other news. You can stay informed about crib recalls by signing up for email alerts. Reporting safety incidents can be done at the Crib Info Center.
You can also receive recall notifications by email or mail if you fill out the Product Safety Information Card when purchasing a new crib.
Other sites, besides the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website, provide information about product recalls. These recalls often include cribs and infant mattresses.
It is better to purchase a brand-new crib than a used one, even though they are more expensive. You can buy a crib from a consignment store or from a friend. Make sure the crib is complete. If your crib is missing screws, bolts, or slats or has cracks, it’s not safe to use. Test a crib first before putting your baby into it.
Recalled cribs are those that have safety issues. Recalls are often caused by:
Safety is a serious matter when it comes to cribs. All cribs are subjected to rigorous testing that simulates the wear and tear a crib is likely to experience over its lifetime. The testing measures are designed to check if the crib’s parts can loosen, crack, or separate.
Many crib recalls are minor. However, others affect thousands of cribs as well as the families that bought them. You can avoid buying a defective crib by knowing about major recalls. It may also help you to know what cribs you should avoid when shopping for a crib.
The ease of lifting a baby into and out of the crib made drop-side cribs popular. Millions of drop-side cribs were recalled between 2009 and 2011 because the hardware that held up the movable panels on the crib was prone to failure. Infants and toddlers may become trapped between the crib mattress and the drop side. Drop-sided cribs were responsible for 32 infant deaths. Some of the most notable crib recalls have included:
Graco and Simplicity have also recalled cribs due to the issue. Stork Craft has also recalled cribs. Many large corporations have stopped manufacturing or selling drop-side cribs. The CPSC has also banned traditional drop-side cribs since June 28, 2011.
Several cribs were recalled due to unstable mattress supports. Infants and toddlers may be seriously injured or even suffocate when the mattress fails.
The health of an infant is just as important as the crib. Make sure the mattress meets all safety standards and hasn’t been recalled.
Parents who discover that their cribs have been recalled should take several steps to protect their baby from injury. Stop using a crib that has been recalled immediately. Verify that the crib was correctly installed and determine if it needs updated hardware. Do not attempt to fix a crib that has been recalled yourself. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer or CPSC. Some companies will provide you with a repair kit or spare parts to replace the defective hardware. Test it before you let your baby use it again after the repairs.
Keeping Babies Safe is an organization that is dedicated to the safety of children’s products. They note that in the past few years, over 11 million cribs were recalled. The organization provides tips for parents who are using recalled cribs to help make babies safe, including only using manufacturer-provided parts to fix recalled cribs and making sure the crib is not missing any bolts, screws, or other hardware. It is better to buy a new crib if the manufacturer doesn’t provide a solution for the recalled crib.
Arm yourself with knowledge when it comes to the safety of your baby. Learn how to register your crib and stay informed about any product recalls. Know the steps you need to take if you have a crib that has been recalled so you can be sure that your child is safe when he/she is sleeping.