U.S. Bans Sale of Drop-Side Cribs

The Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to ban the sale and manufacture of drop-side cribs.

The once-popular cribs, which have a moving rail on one side that allows parents easier access to their baby, have been implicated in the deaths of more than three dozen babies over the last three years.

The deaths came due to dangerous gaps that sometimes form between the mattress and rails due to poor hardware or assembly problems. The babies who died got caught in the gaps and suffocated.

The commission also voted to require tougher standards for all cribs, including sturdier hardware and stronger mattresses. It also required that better assembly instructions be included with new cribs and are forcing manufacturers to put new cribs through more rigorous safety testing.

In the past several years, millions of drop-side cribs made by several manufacturers have been recalled over safety concerns. Most companies have been phasing out drop-side cribs already, but they are still found in many homes, day care centers and hotels.

The rule will go into effect in six months.