All baby cribs that are manufactured in the United States must comply with strict safety standards and guidelines. These safety standards are continually being updated based on new information. Cribs produced since 1974 meet certain safety standards. However, since the safety standards are under constant review there have been updates to the standards through the years since then.
There have been many recalls on baby cribs and baby products through the years. Recalls happen when there has been substantial evidence to show that a particular feature on a crib is unsafe and can cause imminent harm to a baby or infant. Sometimes numerous accidents have occurred to prompt a crib recall.
Infant Cribs
Every parent needs to be sure that the crib is safe for their baby before they purchase it. You cannot rely solely on an inspection tag or a sticker, which shows that the crib meets current safety standards. While this tag is a start, it is certainly not the end of your obligation to keep your child safe. Baby crib recalls may have happened since production and you can't count on the store that is selling the crib to know of all the recalls.
To be safe, all parents need to check their child's crib for recall information. This can easily be done using the Internet. Many baby sites post recall information that is updated as well as archived for easy retrieval. The first site to check is the manufacturer of the crib itself. Each company will always list any recalled products that they have made. There are other sites you can visit as well to check on baby crib recalls. If you can't find any information you can inquire to the company to verify that there has been no recall on the specific product in question.
· recalls.gov
This site provides information on all types of recalled products in the United States.
· http://www.jpma.org
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association is a group that oversees the manufacture of children's products including cribs. They have specific information that pertains to recalled products.
· parents.com
This site devoted to parents provides comprehensive recall information on baby cribs as well as all types of infant and children's products.
· babyhomesafety.com
This site is devoted to providing parents with important child safety information as well as recall information.
In addition to checking for crib recalls as a parent you need to continue to inspect the baby crib once it is in use. Check it at least monthly for stability. Make sure that no hardware is loose or missing, which could pose a choking hazard to infants. Check all the slats of the crib to make sure that none are loose. Feel the slats to make sure that there are no rough edges. Check the mechanism on the sides of any cribs that have them to make sure that they are working properly and that they cannot be pushed down easily.
Recalls on baby cribs should always be taken seriously. Don't assume that the recall doesn't apply to your situation. Instead be proactive by writing down the specific model number and purchase date as well as manufacture date of your baby crib. Keep this handy for future reference. If there is a recall always find out what the recommended procedure is for fixing the problem. Sometimes the company provides a retrofit kit at no charge that will correct the problem. Remove your child from the crib until the situation is resolved. I also have written an article on how to shop for the best rated baby cribs.