New, safer cribs on the market soon

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WAVY) - A new breed of safer cribs are primed to hit the market in retail stores around the nation within the next two weeks.

On December 15, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved new, enhanced safety standards, which required manufacturers and anyone who sold baby cribs to meet.

Mandatory crib standards had not been updated in roughly 30 years. The new rules' goal is to bring in a safer generation of cribs, ultimately aiming to prevent deaths and keep children safer in their cribs.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the standards will: stop the manufacture and sale of dangerous, traditional drop-side cribs; make mattress supports stronger; improve slat strength, make crib hardware more durable; and make safety testing more rigorous.

On Monday, June 20, the Commission reached a vote of 4-0-1in order to extend the time crib rental companies have to perform the new standards for baby cribs. Rental companies have until December 28, 2012 to revise their stock with suitable cribs.

The requirements on manufacturers and/or retailers of cribs does not change due to the Commission's vote. However, beginning June 28, 2011, companies that manufacture or sell cribs must comply with the new safety standards.

Visit the crib information center at: www.cpsc.gov/cribs for more information on crib safety.

For the CPSC story on crib safety, visit: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11251.html?tab=news.