Infant Sleep Safety and Cribs - What Parents Need to Know

Being a frugal parent could be a mistake right now when it comes to purchasing a used crib for a baby or infant. In fact, for many parents, the only choice may be a new crib purchase because of recently enacted changes to the manufacturing standards for cribs.

In June, 2011, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Consumer Product safety Commission (CPSC) announced and began enforcement of more stringent crib manufacturing rules. The rules and guidelines are a direct result of the deaths of at least 32 infants who have died since 2000 as a direct result of being trapped between the edge of the crib mattress and the side of the crib. In many cases the cribs were drop-side cribs where one side of the crib lowers to make putting the baby in and taking the baby out easier. The most significant change to manufacturing rules is that drop-side cribs will no longer be manufactured at all.

In addition to completely eliminating drop-side cribs, the rules for hardware and fit for all other cribs have been significantly increased in an effort to ensure that cribs are safer than they have ever been.

For parents, the ramifications of these changes can be far reaching, especially if parents have a family heirloom crib they intended to use, or were counting on purchasing a used crib for their baby.

Parents who own a drop-side crib should have already stopped using it; however, for those who have not yet done so, the time is now. Drop-side cribs are extremely dangerous and even retrofit kits are not enough to protect the baby. In addition, anyone who owns any other crib manufactured before June, 2011, should contact their crib manufacturer for recall and retrofit information.

Finally, parents who are considering purchasing a used crib should keep in mind that selling cribs manufactured before June, 2011 is no longer permitted and purchasing one could pose dangers to your child. Just because the rules have changed does not mean sites like Craigslist and eBay are removing the older cribs from their listings, so parents shouldn't count on that as a safeguard.

Safe cribs are only the beginning of protecting infants and babies. Remember that all of these changes are to keep infants safe while they are sleeping. Don't forget these sleep safety measures for infants and babies, including, always put infants to sleep on their backs. Back sleeping has significantly reduced the incidence of SIDS, and parents should remind other caregivers about the importance of putting baby to sleep on his or her back.

There should not be anything in the crib with the baby. There is no need for bumpers, blankets, or toys in the crib. Infants and babies should never be put to sleep on couches, pillows, or other soft materials like quilts and sheepskin. Finally, babies who sleep close to their parents (in the same room) but in their own bed have a lowered risk of SIDS as well.

Following these simple rules and putting baby to sleep in a safe crib can significantly reduce sleep tragedies as well as SIDS.