Unfit cribs leading to serious baby injuries

Following this week’s recall of 1.6 million cribs, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced plans to set new rules governing durability standards in cribs.

At the same time, the CPSC also issued a warning to consumers to make sure older cribs are thoroughly inspected for potentially dangerous malfunctions before using them again.

The recall by Delta Enterprise Corp. of New York is said to be the largest ever in the country, and the fifth since September 2007. Most of these five recalls involved hardware problems, leading to deaths or injuries of babies.

Concern has now focused on crib durability, particularly cribs with drop sides that get derailed from the tracks. Drop sides are designed to move up and down, along metal tracks, making it easier to get a baby in and out of the crib. Cribs of this type have figured in more than 1,000 reported incidents in which babies got trapped or strangled. Usually, the drop side corners came off the guide track or a safety peg designed to prevent the side from moving too far and become dislodged from the track did not function.

It is not easy for parents or caregivers to notice there is a problem with the hardware. It can continue to worsen as the baby pushes and leans against the side of the crib.

Some consumer groups believe drop-side cribs should no longer be allowed because the higher risk of children suffocating or getting strangled outweighs the utilitarian benefit.

Durability standards are not part of the current set of standards governing crib makers. There are two sets: mandatory standards promulgated by the CPSC, and voluntary standards set by independent standards-setting groups.

Mandatory standards cover only a few issues, such as the spacing between slats. The industry for the most part follows voluntary standards, such as the height of corner posts or the information in warning labels.

Consumer advocates and even Congress have long called for mandatory standards. In August, Congress passed legislation that required CPSC to set tighter standards for cribs and juvenile products.

The CPSC follows a slow process in making its rules. For instance, it initiated a rulemaking process in 1996 in regard to the problem of crib slats falling out of side rails; until now, this process has not been completed.

Later this week, the CPSC commissioners will vote whether to initiate a formal process to set new durability standards. If they vote to go ahead, information will then be gathered about crib hardware, assembly techniques and processes, and the quality of instructions to consumers.

It will be a long wait.

Safety Tips:

* Avoid using cribs with parts missing or broken.

* Check cribs periodically. Tighten hardware that may have come loose.

* Never try to repair cribs on your own. Contact the manufacturer instead.