WASHINGTON — The government took a big step Wednesday toward eliminating from stores, hotels and day-care centers any crib with a side rail that can be raised and lowered — so-called drop-side cribs.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission proposed new rules that would ban the manufacture, sale and resale of drop-side cribs. The new crib standard, likely to take effect next year, would outlaw drop-side cribs at motels, hotels and child-care facilities.
The push to ban drop-side cribs came as the commission announced the recall of 82,000 cribs from popular retailer Pottery Barn Kids. The recall involves all Pottery Barn Kids drop- side cribs regardless of model number. The company is offering free kits to immobilize the drop-side rail of the cribs.
The CPSC said the cribs could pose a suffocation or entrapment risk to young children.
Drop-side cribs, around for decades, have come under scrutiny in recent years because of hardware problems that can lead to the drop- side rail partially detaching from the crib. When that happens, it can create a dangerous “V”-like gap between the mattress and side rail where a baby can get caught and suffocate or strangle.
Drop-side cribs have been blamed in the deaths of at least 32 infants and toddlers since 2000 and are suspected in another 14 infant fatalities.
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