MNN - Mother Nature Network

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently rolled out new regulations for cribs that some say are the toughest in the world. The biggest change is that that drop-side cribs — like the kind that both of my girls slept in as babies — will no longer be allowed on store shelves. In addition, manufacturers are now required to strengthen crib slats and mattress supports, make crib hardware more durable and subject their products to tougher testing.

 

The new regulations are good news for parents who can look forward to safer cribs hitting the market soon, but not so good news for retailers who may now have a glut of cribs that they are not allowed to sell. These regulations have been in the works for months, if not years, yet some manufacturers are still scrambling to get their current crib models tested to see if they will be allowed on store shelves.

 

Small retailers had sought an extension to carry out the new rules, but the CPSC voted it down. "After dozens of babies had tragically been entrapped and died, and millions of defective cribs had been recalled, the actions of this commission to ensure the swift movement to market of only safer cribs undoubtedly was justified," said Inez M. Tenenbaum, Chairwoman of the CPSC.