Is Your Child Sleeping in a Safe Crib?

New Federal Crib Regulations Affect Day Cares and Churches
By Bud Spoerl, Owner of Baby’s Room & Kids Too

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission implemented sweeping new crib safety standards on Dec. 28, 2010 for all full size and compact cribs.

The new standards took effect for cribs used in private homes in June 2011.

Child-care facilities were given until Dec. 28, 2012 to replace their cribs with ones that comply with the new safety standards.

What does this mean for you?

If your child spends time in a child- care facility, you want to make sure that she is spending time in a crib that meets the new safety standards. Talk with the management and ask to be sure their cribs have been replaced with new compliant cribs.

The safety standards cover cribs used in all child-care or day-care facilities. These include family child-care homes and church-owned or church-operated child-care facilities if a fee is charged.

Child care provided by volunteers during a church service is not covered by the new rules. Hotels and motels  also must meet the new standards. Child-care providers that do not have compliant cribs will be subject to significant fines.

Child-care facilities need to check the manufacture date printed on their cribs. If it’s prior to June 29, 2011, the crib does not meet the new safety standards and must be replaced by the end of 2012.

Even if the crib is still under warranty, it must be replaced. Warranties on cribs apply only to defects and construction quality, but do not cover government required safety standards.

Safety improvements now required include more rigorous safety testing, stronger slats, locking devices to keep hardware secure, stronger mattress supports, and improved labeling and instructions.

The standards also strictly prohibit the use of the traditional drop side crib, even if the drop side has been immobilized.

Baby’s Room & Kids Too is concerned about the safety of all children and will be happy to answer any questions regarding the new regulations. We also provide local child-care facilities and churches with signficant savings on a complete line of full and compact day-care cribs, allowing these facilities to meet the new safety standards and provide the safest environment for your child.

Additional info on safety regulations:  www.cpsc.gov/info/cribs/cribrules.html or www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5023.pdf.