Fed US govt bans drop-side baby cribs

[tropicangela]

After babies' deaths, federal regulators ban drop-side cribs and those that don't pass strict durability tests. It will be illegal to resell most used cribs.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-cribs-20101216,0,210525.story

Our family has always practiced safe cosleeping for a variety of reasons, and while we have a crib, we seldom use it.

Cosleeping Safely - http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/01/11/co-sleeping-safety/

[angelatc]

Here's a great article in one of the last places I would have expected to find it - the liberal St Pete Times: http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/subversive-thoughts-about-recalling-cribs/1140668

[tangent4ronpaul]

Here's a great article in one of the last places I would have expected to find it - the liberal St Pete Times: http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/subversive-thoughts-about-recalling-cribs/1140668

Oh GAWD! and yes it is a great article!


This week, the feds banned drop-side cribs — cribs with sides that lower to make it easier to get the baby out. The ban is nuts. Here's why.

Over the past nine years, 32 children have died in these cribs. That is tragic. But — and saying "but" does not make me a heartless bean counter — we are talking about roughly three deaths a year in a country where about 4 million babies are born annually. That is about one death per million.

That does not prove that the cribs are unsafe. It proves that the cribs are pretty safe. Safer than stairs (1,300 deaths per year), safer than eating (about 70 kids younger than 10 choke to death on food each year), safer than just sitting there and the next thing you know you're bitten by a venomous spider (five deaths per year).

I loved her comment on making balls more boxy to make them safer too :)

From the first article:


The new rules will make it illegal to sell nearly all used cribs, since few second-hand cribs will meet the tougher standards.

You just know that the crib manufactures lobbied for this!

On co-sleeping, a friend had her daughter stolen by CPS for bringing the child onto the bed when she was in the hospital.

Really,, we need to ban CPSC!

-t

[CaliforniaMom]

I used a drop side crib for my kids, and never had an issue with it. I never imagined they could be dangerous.

[MelissaWV]

I used a drop side crib for my kids, and never had an issue with it. I never imagined they could be dangerous.

Like anything else, it takes care and some "testing" to figure out if it's dangerous. I never met a family who didn't "test" a crib or playpen before putting their kid in it, but apparently there are some out there. You have to ensure it's sturdy, and that anything you can unsnap cannot be easily unsnapped by the baby. Most people do that stuff intuitively (maybe you shook the crib, or pulled on something once you tied it, or wagged the bumper to make sure there wasn't room between it and the rails).

* * *

The bottom line, though, is that babies are teeny and largely defenseless humans. Most things are dangerous to some extent. A child can actually suffocate itself fairly easily, or choke on a variety of things, or break a limb (or its neck) without the extreme force necessary to do so in an adult. While the skull is soft, injuries can happen that will affect them for a lifetime. All of this is why there are parents, or at least one, around :) And, sadly, no matter how good the parents... there will always be a death or two. This reminds me of the lady lobbying for chokeless hotdogs. I can understand her grief, and her motivation, but what of the other people agreeing with her? What is THEIR motivation?

You can't sell used cribs anymore? Well that's great. Cops will patrol yard sales and second-hand stores looking for them (and issuing fines, I'm sure), destroying the things rather than give them to the less fortunate, of course. Crib sales will go up even if many people start keeping the baby in bed with them. Hell, I wonder if they'll find a way to track if you're on your second or third child, and ensure that you're not using the same crib. It's dangerous!!!

[pcosmar]

I am wondering how any of us survived. Humans should have died off ages ago before the government regulations were invented.

:rolleyes:

[amy31416]

I am wondering how any of us survived. Humans should have died off ages ago before the government regulations were invented.

:rolleyes:

I was just wondering the same thing.

But here's a good alternative!

http://www.chdist.com/images/products/45-104BL_p.jpg

Seems to me that you could keep a newborn in one of these and it'd be safer than those crib "death traps."

[tangent4ronpaul]

Interesting idea, but might want to put some holes in the side. CO2 is heavier than O2, right... and what is the tidal volume of an infant anyway? Guess it would depend on air circulation.

-t

[MelissaWV]

http://www.buschsystems.com/Products/website-photos/Stackables/12-gallon-stackables.png

They make those for multiple births, too :D

[amy31416]

http://www.buschsystems.com/Products/website-photos/Stackables/12-gallon-stackables.png

They make those for multiple births, too :D

How convenient for mommies with triplets! Strap all three of 'em to a dolly, and you have one hell of a sweet stroller. :)

[angelatc]

I was just wondering the same thing.

But here's a good alternative!

http://www.chdist.com/images/products/45-104BL_p.jpg

Seems to me that you could keep a newborn in one of these and it'd be safer than those crib "death traps."

My grandmother had 9 babies. More than one of them slept in an emptied-out drawer, placed on the floor. One of her babies died at 18 months, but it was from a heart defect. Had nothing to do with a crib or lack of one.

[MelissaWV]

How convenient for mommies with triplets! Strap all three of 'em to a dolly, and you have one hell of a sweet stroller. :)

Well... upon further thought... I hope those containers are water-tight. The triplet on the bottom might see some unwelcome precipitation otherwise?

* * *

The baby in the drawer was probably pretty darned safe. With the drawer being fairly small, there were probably blankets tucked in around him/her holding them steady, keeping them from rolling out, and providing comfort. Hygiene being how it was, the blankets probably smelled like family or sunshine.

[amy31416]

My grandmother had 9 babies. More than one of them slept in an emptied-out drawer, placed on the floor. One of her babies died at 18 months, but it was from a heart defect. Had nothing to do with a crib or lack of one.

My great-grandma had 13...one died as an infant because grandma tripped while carrying a giant pot of boiling water....she'd probably be thrown in jail today for negligence and child labor (all the kids worked in the bakery and the older girls took care of the younger. and worked for rich people doing housework.)

These laws just get asinine after a while. African and Asian women carry their babies in a sling while working...the horror!