New Federal Crib Safety Standards Beginning June 28, 2011: All it Will Take for Babies to Sleep Safe and Sound?

How do you justify the serious injury or death of an infant because of a poorly designed crib? The answer to this baffling question is, you don’t.

It seems like a long time coming, but beginning on June 28, 2011, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), all cribs manufactured and sold (including resale) will be required to adhere to new and improved federal safety standards. These new regulations apply to both full-size and non full-size cribs and prohibit the creation and sale of traditional drop-side rail cribs. The new rules also require manufacturers to reinforce the strength of crib slats as well as mattress supports, require more extensive and strict testing, and enhance the quality of hardware. After June 28, it will be illegal to manufacture, sell, contract to sell or resell, lease, sublet, offer, or provide for use a crib that does not comply with the new standards for full-size and non-full-size cribs.

But are the new CPSC crib safety rules enough to ensure that infants avoid injury or death while they are sleeping? The key to prevention will be follow-through and additional, long-term monitoring of crib safety.

One challenge is that anyone who has recently purchased a crib before June 28, 2011 probably isn’t able to tell if the crib adheres to the new standards and may need to purchase a new crib. Before this date, consumers were expected to ask the retail store or the manufacturers whether the crib complied with 16 CFR 1219 (the new federal standard for full-size cribs) or 16 CFR 1220 (the new federal standard for non-full-size cribs).

The new standards apply to cribs that are currently in use at child care centers and areas of public care. Another challenge is that these facilities are required to use only compliant cribs that adhere to the new federal safety standards by December 28, 2012.

As defective product lawyers in Philadelphia at the Beasley Firm, we are all-too familiar with the varying shortcuts manufacturers will take to increase profitability. As a team of legal and medical professionals who have worked for decades ensuring that justice is won for our clients, we have acquired extensive legal experience, knowledge, and resources with an unmatched track record of success to prove it. Contact our firm today to find out how we can protect your rights. Call today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

For more information about the new crib standards, visit the CPSC’s website at http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2011/06/the-new-crib-standard-questions-and-answers/.