Safety First: New Laws For Cribs, Beds, and Play Set

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By Mia Bolaris-Forget

Safety is a key concern when it comes to our families and especially when it comes to our children. Still more than 9,000 infants and toddlers wind up in the emergency annually due to accidents and injuries that result from cribs, playpens and bassinets.

In fact, experts assert that the "true" number of infant injuries and fatalities are even greater than what statistics show because recent research only focused on those brought to emergency rooms and not doctor's offices or urgent care centers.

The staggering numbers are mostly a result of falls. Experts note that because little ones have "big" heads and are top heavy, they easily fall out of beds. And, because they have yet to develop the ability to break their fall with their hands little ones typically land head first.
With that said, experts suggest that manufacturers come up with a better design for cribs...a design better geared at preventing falls..
In addition, back in December, The Consumer Product Safety Commission put forth the first new set of mandatory crib standards...a revision that took 30 years and spurred by the fatalities of at least 36 infants since 2007. The new guidelines call for a ban on cribs with movable drop-down sides. This regardless of the convenience they offer parents in getting babies in and out...and because of the dangers they present in trapping children especially when the cribs have broken or missing pieces.

These new standards have in turn resulted in the recall of over 11 million cribs since 2007.

The Commission further plans to issue new safety standards for toddler beds and bassinets this year and to look into new standards for play yards.

Long Island Safety Articles > Safety First: New Laws For Cribs, Beds, and Play Set