Babies under 1 year-old are safest when placed on their backs in empty cribs that meet the latest safety standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. About 2500 infants die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) each year. The AAP and the CPSC have urged parents not to use the kind of bumpers that a baby could sink into. Experts and manufacturers agree all those items that make the crib seem cuddly and cozy can block a baby’s nose and mouth and some sleeping babies may not wake up sufficiently to fight for air when this happens, leading to SIDS.

 Another reminder: This June it will be illegal to make, sell or resell any crib in the U.S. that doesn’t meet tough new federal standards. Drop-down sides which have been linked to 32 infant deaths since 2000, will be prohibited. New rules also require stronger slats, mattress supports and hardware to withstand active toddlers.

 Tags with the code 16 CFR 1219 for full size cribs and 16 CFR 1220 for compact cribs indicate the cribs meet the new standards. Hotels, day care centers, churches and other public accommodations have until December 2012 to make sure their cribs meet new safety standards.

As a result, much needed and  new mandatory safety standards for cribs might become a reality in 2011.

 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted 5-0 Wednesday in favor of the proposed regulations. The new rules would essentially ban the manufacture and sale of the very popular drop-side cribs. The announcement of the vote coincided with Pottery Barn Kids recalling 80,000 drop-side cribs that posed entrapment, suffocation and fall hazards. 

 It’s believed the new rules could come into effect next summer if a final vote in December is passed.

Clearwater St. Petersburg Child Accident and Injury Lawyer and author James Dodson, has written “When Kids Suffer Big Injuries, A Parents Guide to Child Injury in Florida,”  to provide parents and guardians with basic information to help them make informed decisions to protect their child’s legal rights. Request your FREE copy today.

 The hazard is found in the drop side hardware.  It can break or fall and create a wedge in which an infant or toddler can become entrapped.  There have been 99 reports of drop side malfunctions.  A total of 8 children have been affected, either becoming trapped in the wedge and suffocating or being strangled, or falling from the crib.  There has been one report of a concussion.  Consumers should stop using these recalled products immediately. 

 For more information on this recall, please visit the U.S. Production Safety Commission website. 

 As a Florida Child Injury Attorney, we understand the emotions involved when a child is injured or hurt.  If your child has suffered an injury due to the negligence of another person, call our toll free number (888) 340-0840 for a free case review.  There is never any obligation to hire a lawyer.

Read our No Fee Promise.

 An online report was published this week suggesting that Dorel Industries may have been persuaded with the recall by actions the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission planned to take.  The report quotes a spokesman with CPSC as saying the commission would take unilateral action to recall 20 various models of Dorel cribs due to hardware issues in drop-side cribs as well as for slats that break.

The report continues to say that because of the potential embarrassment of not issuing a recall in the aftermath of dozens of incidents and the fatality of a baby — Dorel announced the recall with the traditional language of  “in cooperation with” the CPSC.

 In a written statement, Dorel said, “The recall is motivated by isolated reports of broken crib slats and drop-side hardware. In total, 67 incidents were reported and 10 children were bruised or scratched.”  The statement described the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death as highly unusual. 

For more details,  please visit CPSC or call Dorel Asia toll-free at  (866) 762-2304        

 The recall was in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.  The CPSC issued a statement urging parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs.  The drop-side can be installed upside-down, which can result in broken or disengaged plastic parts.  The defect in the cribs can create a dangerous space between the drop-side and the crib mattress.  As a result, infants and toddlers can become entrapped in the space which can then lead to suffocation.

 A free repair kit can be ordered by calling Stork Craft anytime, toll-free at (877) 274-0277.  For helpful tips on Crib Safety, please visit CPSC’s Crib Information Center.

For additional safety information resources related to Florida child injuries, visit our website @ http://www.jwdodsonlaw.com/practice_areas/child-injuries1.cfm