United States drop-side crib ban

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health...,7325233.story

Essentially, in 6 months it will be illegal to make, sell or resell any cribs with a drop-side to them in the US.

Well, I better start researching cribs again, because I believe the one I was going to buy was a drop-side!

I think this link explaines "why" they're banning them (although I have a feeling that some fishy politics are at hand too....they "could" replace the plastic parts with more durable metal ones vs. an all-out ban...but oh well)- The illustrations in the link below make sense. (I was curious myself; especially since I'm so short and already have a tough time getting my nieces/nephews out of their cribs when I watch them; what happens when I have a kiddo?! I'm sure they'll come up with something else by then)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...206716.graphic

I'm going to complain a little

A drop side crib is what I have in Kristen's closet. We never got rid of it after using it with the kids. It was always safe- it never separated on the side. Becca did get hurt in it- but that was b/c she stuck her foot between the crib slats (she was a tiny kid) and broke her leg.

I would LOVE to get rid of it. Considered it when orchestra was having its fundraiser for the trip over Spring break ($700+ to send my child to Disney World for 4 days). But it was right after the huge recall of them, and I didn't know if I would wind up having to cart it back home. And I really didn't want to give it to the charity that was picking stuff up b/c of the recall.

I think they're safe as long as the crib has all of its pieces, AND the adult putting it together puts it together the right way. And being "height challenged" myself- I couldn't imagine leaning all the way over the side of a crib to get a child in and out of it.

Cheryl

We didn't buy one just because some of them seemed kind of flimsy. Having said that though, I agree that there is something kind of fishy going on with the outright banning of them

I actually double-checked the crip I picked out and it's stationary sided, so I'm in the clear. The drop-side wasn't a selling point for me, but overall safety was. I was looking at Consumer Reports to make my pick.

I think it's rather hasty too, especially since I was talking with a friend of mine who said she just made the drop-side unusable, which fixed the safety issue. *shrug*

I'm only 5'2", so I've always had issues with reaching things anyway. I'm not sure what I can do to combat that with the stationary sided crib, but I'll need to figure something out.

Originally Posted by emrldsky

I actually double-checked the crip I picked out and it's stationary sided, so I'm in the clear. The drop-side wasn't a selling point for me, but overall safety was. I was looking at Consumer Reports to make my pick.

I think it's rather hasty too, especially since I was talking with a friend of mine who said she just made the drop-side unusable, which fixed the safety issue. *shrug*

I'm only 5'2", so I've always had issues with reaching things anyway. I'm not sure what I can do to combat that with the stationary sided crib, but I'll need to figure something out.

Click to expand...

Well, if you or hubby are any kind of a woodworker, you could always shorten the legs of the crib!

Originally Posted by emrldsky

I actually double-checked the crip I picked out and it's stationary sided, so I'm in the clear. The drop-side wasn't a selling point for me, but overall safety was. I was looking at Consumer Reports to make my pick.

I think it's rather hasty too, especially since I was talking with a friend of mine who said she just made the drop-side unusable, which fixed the safety issue. *shrug*

I'm only 5'2", so I've always had issues with reaching things anyway. I'm not sure what I can do to combat that with the stationary sided crib, but I'll need to figure something out.

Click to expand...

I'm only 5'2" and I was worried about the same thing! I had to put my crib on the lowest setting so that I could put the crib tent on to keep the kitties out and I could still reach everywhere in the crib and reach Lexi... even when she was super tiny. I"m sure you'll be okay, espically since you likely won't be using the lower settings until your baby is much bigger (I have the Graco - Lauren convertable crib)

If companies went back to making quality stuff instead of cheap trash, they wouldn't have this problem. Cribs from when I was a baby are still being used today without any problems. That's because they were made with thought and care with good/durable quality parts.

Originally Posted by kluchetta

Well, if you or hubby are any kind of a woodworker, you could always shorten the legs of the crib!

Click to expand...

My dad is and I'm sure that Grandpa would be more than happy to help out.

Originally Posted by sillyitiliangrl

I'm only 5'2" and I was worried about the same thing! I had to put my crib on the lowest setting so that I could put the crib tent on to keep the kitties out and I could still reach everywhere in the crib and reach Lexi... even when she was super tiny. I"m sure you'll be okay, espically since you likely won't be using the lower settings until your baby is much bigger

(I have the Graco - Lauren convertable crib)

Click to expand...

I'm looking at an Ikea crib...it's the best recommended one through Consumer Reports. I want to look at it at the store before ordering, but that'll require a long commute to Chicagoland.

Once we get the crib situation figured out, my next worry is the changing table, lol. I hate being short!

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

If companies went back to making quality stuff instead of cheap trash, they wouldn't have this problem. Cribs from when I was a baby are still being used today without any problems. That's because they were made with thought and care with good/durable quality parts.

Click to expand...

I would normally agree about heirloom furniture being the best, but in the case of cribs, I would sooo not use the crib that my parents had for me. I slid through the slats and was caught by my head. My mom was scared to death when she heard me crying.

I used to be quite the escape artist in my crib and playpens. I had a drop side crib, and I never came close to injuring myself. Instead of banning the design, they should sue the manufacturers who are using shoddy materials (mine was all wood, gotta love late 80's styling).