Could crib bumpers be one step closer to being banned?
February 2, 2011Crib bumpers, the pillow-like lining used to separate the sides
of the crib with an infant’s head, may be one step closer to
extinction due to beefed up safety guidelines by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC).
While the CPSC doesn't specifically discourage use of bumpers, it
does recommend keeping all extraneous items out of cribs like
stuffed animals, pillows and heavy quilts.
Plus, whether it was intended or not, bumpers are nowhere to be
seen among the examples of safe cribs featured in the
commission’s informational video online.
Crib bumper safety
The safety of crib bumpers has been a hotly debated topic over
the last decade. Consumer advocacy groups and children’s
safety organizations believe bumpers can cause suffocation,
strangulation, or contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS). However, the government has been slow to take a stand
on the controversial crib accessory.
Still, the commission is not ignoring the subject of safe sleep
areas for infants and young toddlers.
In December 2010, it unanimously approved new, stricter safety standards for all
cribs; standards that had not been updated in thirty years.
Under the new guidelines, crib manufacturers must ensure mattress
supports are stronger, the crib hardware is more durable, and the
safety testing of their products is more rigorous.
The commission’s standards also stop the manufacture and sale
of traditional drop-side cribs, which they warned parents about in May, 2010 and issued
almost a dozen recalls for since 2005.
According to the commission, over seven million drop-side cribs
were included in the recalls due to suffocation and strangulation
hazards created by the drop side.
While these are steps in a positive direction, when (or if) the
commission will address the possible safety hazards of crib bumpers
is anyone’s guess.
Bumper ban
Illinois Attorney General Lisa
Madigan has been calling for the end of crib bumpers sinceDecember 2010.
Last month, she urged the Juvenile Products
Manufacturers Association (JPMA), the national industry trade group
overseeing manufacturers of crib bumpers, to release the results of
a study it conducted on the safety of bumpers. As of
mid-January 2011, the results have yet to be released.
Madigan continues to warn parents and care-givers of the
potentially fatal risk of using crib bumpers.
Along with discouraging keeping bulky items out of cribs, the
CPSC’s safety guidelines included other important tips to
keep babies and young toddlers safe while they sleep:
- To prevent suffocation, never place pillows or thick quilts in a baby's sleep environment. Also, make sure there are no gaps larger than two fingers between the sides of the crib and the mattress.
- Proper assembly of cribs is paramount - Follow the instructions provided and make sure that every part is installed correctly. If you are not sure, call the manufacturer for assistance.
- Do not use cribs older than 10 years or broken or modified cribs. Infants can strangle to death if their bodies pass through gaps between loose components or broken slats while their heads remain entrapped.
- Set up play yards properly according to manufacturers' directions. Only use the mattress pad provided with the play yard; do not add extra padding.
- Never place a crib near a window with blind, curtain cords or baby monitor cords; babies can strangle on cords.
The commission also has resources for parents and care-givers to see if their child’s crib has been included in any of the recalls.