Interpreting the New Crib Standards

What programs must do to comply with the new crib safety regulations:

•  Obtain the brand name and model number for each crib in use at the center or family child care home and keep this information on file. A form for documenting this has been done is available here.

Types of documentation that count include:

    • Manufacturer's label on the crib
    • Receipts or related materials from time of purchase

•  Annually, check to make sure that the crib(s) in use are safe by double-checking that they have not been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Look up whether or not they have been recalled by using the following link:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/recalldb/prod.asp

Scroll down until you see the word "cribs", highlight it with your mouse, then click "find".

•  Monthly, check cribs for safety. Use the following criteria to determine if a crib is unsafe. This step is meant to ensure that programs are checking their cribs for damage and wear and tear that could be creating an unsafe condition for a vulnerable child in their care. A suggested form which includes an inspection checklist is available here.

For all cribs:

•  No corner posts extend more than 1/16 of an inch (#1 on checklist)

•  No spaces between side slats exceed 2.375 inches (a rule of thumb for checking this is to push a pop can between the slats - if the width is wider than a pop can, it does not meet this criterion) (#2 on checklist)

•  No mattress supports can be easily dislodged from any point of the crib (#3 on checklist)

•  No cutout designs are present on end panels (#4 on checklist)

•  No screws, bolts, or hardware are loose or not secured, and there is no use of woodscrews in components that are designed to be assembled and disassembled by the crib owner (#7 on checklist)

•  No sharp edges, points, or rough surfaces are present (#8 on checklist)

•  No wood surfaces are rough, splintered, split, or cracked (#9 on checklist)

•  No gaps between the mattress and any sides of the crib are present (#12 on checklist)

For full-size cribs only, these are additional requirements:

•  No heights of the rail and end panel are less than 26 inches when measured from the top of the rail or panel in the highest position to the top of the mattress support in its lowest position (#5 on checklist)

•  No heights of the rail and end panel are less than 9 inches when measured from the top of the rail or panel in its lowest position to the top of the mattress support in its highest position (#6 on checklist)

For non-full-size cribs only, these are additional requirements:

•  There are no tears in mesh of fabric sides in non-full-size cribs (#10 on checklist

•  No mattress pads in non-full-size mesh or fabric cribs exceed one inch (#11 on checklist)

If there are items on the checklist that do not apply to the full-size or non-full-size crib that is being inspected, it is suggested that the provider simply write "N/A" on the form for those items.

For more information on federal crib safety requirements, see the following links:

Full-size cribs

Federal requirements:

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/16cfr1508_04.html

Regulatory summary: http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/regsumcrib.pdf

Non-full-size cribs

Federal requirements:

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/16cfr1509_04.html

Regulatory summary: http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/regsumcribnfs.pdf