A New Rule for Cribs

The Consumer Product Safety Commission voted December 15, 2010 to approve a new Rule for Cribs, adopting the most rigorous standards in the world. The Rule is an outcome of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Among the performance requirements:

• 80 lb. loading on individual slats
• surviving many thousands of impacts to mattress surface and crib sides
• wood screws no longer allowed as sole means of fastening structural joints a ban on traditional drop-side cribs (a moveable section of the side is still allowed for easier access to baby)

Of particular concern to infant care providers is Congress's requirement that the Rule be retroactive. No wooden cribs in use prior to the Rule are known to be in compliance with it. All such cribs must be replaced. The Rule allows two years after its publication (expected daily now) for child care centers to replace their cribs.


Source: www.ccie.com

What Everyone Should Know

• No retrofitting will be allowed.
• Manufacturers must meet new standards by June 2011.
• The new rules apply to owners and operators of child care facilities (including in-home child care, private, public, for profit, non-profit) and public accommodations such as hotels on December 28, 2012.
• Rules affect non-full size AND full-size cribs.
• The new rules will affect EVERY crib not just cribs with drop sides.
• CPSC will inspect and fine providers violating these rules beginning on 12/29/2012.
• Although parents are not mentioned specially they would be included in "placement in the stream of commerce" category which would not allow them to re-sell or buy cribs which do not meet the new rules.

Source: NCCA