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Cribs
More infants die every year
in accidents involving cribs than with any other nursery product.
Thousands of infants are injured seriously enough to require
treatment in hospital emergency rooms.
If You're Buying a New
Full-Size Crib
1. Corner posts should not
extend more than 1/16 inch (1 1/2 mm) above the top of the end
panel. Corner posts can be catch points for items placed around a
child's neck or clothing worn by the child.
2. Mattress support hangers
should be secured by bolts or closed hooks. All crib hardware
should be securely tightened and checked frequently.
3. Bumper pads, if used,
should (a) fit around the entire crib, (b) tie or snap into place,
and (c) have straps or ties at least in each corner, in the middle
of each long side, and on both the top and the bottom edges. To
prevent your baby from becoming entangled in the ties, trim off
excess length after tying. Use the bumpers until the baby can pull
up to a standing position, then remove them so that the baby will
not use them to try to climb out of the crib.
4. Remove and destroy all
plastic wrapping materials. Never use plastic bags as mattress
covers. The plastic film may cling to a baby's face and cause
suffocation.
If You Already Have a Crib
1. CPSC discourages the use
of used cribs. Use a crib that meets Federal safety regulations
and industry voluntary standards (ASTM) and make sure it has a
tight fitting mattress. Check the labeling on these products to
make sure they meet safety requirements.
2. Check the crib and replace
any missing parts, such as screws, bolts or mattress support
hangers, before placing your child in it. Make sure all screws or
bolts are securely tightened. Any screw inserted into a wood
component that cannot be tightened securely should be replaced by
one that fits. On cribs where the mattress support is suspended by
hangers attached to hooks on the end panels, check frequently to
be sure they have not become disconnected. Never use a crib with
broken or missing parts.
3. Use a mattress that fits
tightly. If you can fit more than two fingers between the edge of
the mattress and crib side, the mattress is too small. An infant
can suffocate if its head or body becomes wedged between the
mattress and the crib sides.
4. Avoid older cribs with
headboard and footboard designs that may allow an infant's head to
become caught in the openings between the corner post and the top
rail, or in other openings in the top edge of the headboard
structure. These openings may lead to strangulation.
5. Corner posts should be
less than 1/16 inches high. (1-1/2 mm) unless the crib has a
canopy. Do not use a crib that has decorative knobs on corner
posts. If you already have a crib with such knobs, the knobs
should be unscrewed or sawed off flush with the headboard or
footboard. Sand off splinters and sharp corners.
6. Never use a crib that has
loose or missing slats. Be sure that all slats are securely
fastened in place and the space between slats is no more than
2-3/8 inches (60 mm) to avoid head entrapment/strangulation.
7. If you paint or refinish
the crib, use only high quality household lead-free enamel paint
and let it dry thoroughly so there are no residual fumes. Check
the label on the paint can to make sure the manufacturer does not
recommend against using the paint on items such as cribs. |
