Dropside Cribs Outlawed

If the crib is in fine working order there is no reason to move him. Do not run out to buy another and do not rush him into a toddler bed- he's too young.

We used a drop side with both boys with no issues, in fact I had to have one, I am too short for a normal crib and would have had to drop my baby in in the side did not come down. I transitioned both of my boys to toddler beds at 16 months and they did fine.

Make sure you've put it together correctly and it should be fine. This law is just like the one last year where now they say not to give cold and cough medicine to anyone under 6. It's been fine since the early 20th century when pharmacies started selling remedies, but all of the sudden it's supposed to be so harmful. It's idiocy! It's because there are some stupid parents out there, and they overdose their kids -just like some don't follow instructions and put cribs together improperly. If your crib was put together correctly and you've used all the recall hardware, etc. I wouldn't worry about it.

***Tracy C. -I sincerely hope you never drive your children anywhere or put them in a bathtub. Thousands of children die from those two things every year, but the safety police can't outlaw bathing and driving, so they don't. Here's a long list of items that can and have been deadly or harmful to children over the years, but we can't rely on the government to do all of our thinking for us: Clothes dryers and washing machines are terribly dangerous to children. Stoves, ovens, fireplaces, lawnmowers, weed whackers, irons, hot water out of the faucet, stairs, windows, pets, bug spray, rat poison, rubbing alcohol, OTC meds for adults, prescription meds, baby powder, kitchen utensils, power cords, electrical outlets, mop buckets, beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, lighters, matches, gasoline, sugar, salt -it never ends. As parents we bear some responsibility for watching over our children and checking their equipment, dosages -whatever -to make sure it's okay.

I read a fabulous response to this issue today. I hope no one minds if I repost this piece from Lenore Skenazy:

I’m going to be blunt: The ban on the sale, resale and manufacture of all drop-side cribs does not make sense. Here’s why:
Over the past nine years, 32 children have died in these cribs. That is tragic. My heart sinks thinking about it. But — and yes, there IS a but, and this “but” does not make me a heartless bean counter, or a crazed Free-Ranger who laughs in the face of danger (I am, at base, a nervous mom) — we are talking about roughly 3 deaths a year in a country where about 4 million babies are born annually. That is, about one death per million.
That does not prove that the cribs are UNsafe. It proves that the cribs ARE pretty safe. Safer than stairs (1300 deaths/year), safer than eating (about 70 kids under age 10 choke to death on food each year), safer than just sitting there and the next thing you know, you’re bitten by a venomous spider (5 deaths/year).
I realize that these stats are jumbled — they are not the deaths of infants, whose main cause of death is birth defects (5623/year) — but my point is that 3 deaths a year from any cause for any large population is almost something that statisticians call “de minimus.” Not that these deaths don’t count. Of course they do! But when a cause of death is that rare, you can’t base your life on it, or you couldn’t do anything. Go outside? No, there are spiders! Go downstairs? No, you could trip! Eat a sandwich? No, you could choke! (And then would you sue Wonder Bread?)
As for cribs, one reason the drop-side models seem so “dangerous” is because they are so popular. When you have millions of people using anything, no matter how safe, the odds of an accident go up because the odds go up with the numbers. That’s why it’s more likely an American will die in a car accident than a bucking bronco accident. Doesn’t mean that cars are inherently less safe than bucking broncos. The odds also go up because with millions of people assembling these things, some are bound to do it wrong, which seems to have been the case in many of these tragedies.
I don’t want to get into a huge discussion of crib design, but the recall list includes some of the biggest baby-product manufacturers around, like Even Flo and Child Craft. I am sure they tested their cribs because no company deliberately puts dangerous products on the market, if only because they know they could be sued up the wazzoo. And children’s product manufacturers know that better than anyone. Think of all the products recalled for tiny infractions, like a protruding screw.
And yet my own senator, Kristin Gillibrand (D., NY) is quoted in yesterday’sDaily News saying, ”These products are deadly, and this critically needed action will prevent further senseless deaths.”
Ah, but what will prevent further, senseless grandstanding? These products are not deadly. There’s a difference between a deadly product (cyanide) and a product that sometimes results in death (a grape). We keep obscuring that difference, and congratulating the folks who act as if it is only a lack of vigilance that allows anyone to die of anything other than old age.
This is the same impossible standard we then go on to apply to parents: The idea that if anything bad EVER happens to ANY child, it is because the parent was “defective.” And what is the result? Helicoptering! Truly, one reason parents today are so obsessive and fearful is that this is society’s norm: Worry about every possible, if extremely unlikely, thing that COULD go wrong and spend your days ACTIVELY trying to prevent them all.
The truth is: I love the idea of the government keeping us safe from dangerous products. It is the definition of “dangerous” that has gone awry. Next the Consumer Product Safety Commission may train its sights on balls because, in their inherent roundness, these sometimes roll into the street, and some kids running out to get them get hit by cars. Moreover, there are millons of balls in Americans’ homes, making balls a far bigger danger than, say, battery-operated guillotines. That is why, if I am ever elected Senator, I will not rest until we redesign the bouncy ball. A slightly boxier one would make our kids safer, would it not?
Elect me and I will make sure our nation has no more balls. – Lenore

My FIL has been in the child product and safety industry for 30 years. He's had all the conversations and done all the research arond this issue...amongst others (remember the BPA upheaval 2 years ago?).

He initially said that it was a concern and to make sure to fix the crib. But after his latest meeting with JPMA, he said that it was not such a big deal anyway, and that the panic was over a few severe isolated incidents (that can happen in anything).

So DS is in a drop side and will stay there until we move her to a bigger bed.
He would simply not allow us to do that if he thought it wasn't safe, for what it's worth.

I think that the "outlaw" is currently in place to SELL. I know daycares have a year to replace the cribs, so why can't the same hold true for parents?

New crib. Get rid of the one you have now. I'm sure parents whose baby died had no previous issues with the crib. Get rid of it. If your son is ready for a toddler bed, do that. I would guess he's not ready b/c he's so young, so get another crib. The expense is well worth the confidence he won't get trapped in a crappy made crib. Good luck.

P.S. I don't understand the other response "it's probably OK." What does that mean? Probably, but not definitely. Does that mean he will "probably" be okay, but may get strangled? Get rid of the crib.

P.P.S. I'm flabbergasted...I do not purchase or use anything for my kids that has been outlawed or recalled. Plain & simple. Safe is better than sorry.

I've got mixed feeling about the situation.
Apparently SOME cribs have been manufacture with plastic or sub standard parts and because of these cheap products, there have been 30 deaths over a period of 10 years. That's 3 a year. Which doesn't make those deaths any better but out of millions of babies out there, that's a very small number. I think there have been more problems with playpens over the years than cribs.
I still have my son's crib. He's 12 now and hasn't used it in 9 years. It's built like a tank and we never had any problems with it.
Outlawing them means the manufacturers will have to come up with new designs and I'm not convinced new designs are going to be any safer or solve the cheap/plastic parts problem.
If your crib model is very sturdy, has all the replacement parts, etc you are probably fine to keep him in it till he's ready for a bed. If you have zero confidence your crib is safe, then get some safety rails and switch to a bed now.

"Parents who are using drop-side cribs are advised to check the hardware on the cribs to be certain it's working properly and to make sure their crib has not been recalled. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, which represents over 90 percent of the crib industry, says properly assembled drop-sides that haven't been recalled can be safely used"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101215/ap_on_bi_ge/us_safer_...
If you have gotten the recall kit and properly installed it your crib is fine to use. Daycares are being given 2 yrs to replace them if it was a huge issue they would be mandated to replace them now.

I'm leaving my 9 month old in the crib till she's ready to convert (obviously she's not since she's so young) and I feel totally comfortable in doing so. Her sister used this crib, she's been in it 9 months with no problem...there are so many more important things to worry about with kids, this just isn't something I'm freaking out about. Just my take on it.

P.S. I smell a money making racket here...everyone quick, run out and buy a new crib! Seriously? And yes, I agree with Grandma that the media plays a big part...just like the year of the shark and the swine flu last year. What a joke.

My girl just turned 2 and we're going to keep her in the crib (drop-side) until she's literally climbing out of it! I figure as long as you keep an eye on the parts--wiggle the sides, push/pull on slats, and just make sure it's still in working order--it's safe. I think it's more about being aware of the equipment that you're using and knowing what condition it's in! Read the reasons for recall (now "outlawed") and see if that applies to your crib.

When my girl is ready, I'm planning to skip the toddler bed and go right to twin/full. I also plan to re-use her crib for any future kid(s) we may have.

I kept my youngest (and the two before) in a DS crib, as long as possible. I am short so it makes putting a sleeping child into bed difficult. We made sure there were no loose, or missing parts, and the side was stable. We have never had any problems, and plan on using the crib when #4 comes!

He's probably safe in it. We all grew up in dropside cribs and have lived to tell. When he begins to attempt to climb out that's when you put it in the fire :)

Personally....after reading all the horror stories on the drop side cribs, I would never be able to sleep knowing my son was in one. His crib was recalled and I ripped it apart that day and threw it out....supposedly I could have ordered a new hardware piece but I had no faith in the crib any longer. He slept with us a couple of nights until I purchase and put together his toddler bed and then we started the long journey of toddler bed transition (he is our one and only so I did not want to buy another crib) My son was a bit older than your's though...I think he was about 21 months when this happened. If I was you, with a 16 month old, I would look for an afordable safe crib and hope that he stays in it at least a year (crib tents work great for climbers). Good luck.

I would either leave him in the crib or just use a pack and play till he is ready for a toddler bed. 16 months is young to be in a toddler bed unless he is ready. Otherwise, it may be more hassle than it's worth to put a child in a bed that isn't ready.

Personally, I would keep the existing crib as long as you know it's up to date with all that's needed. My understanding is that certain models have had problems, not every single one on the market (I think they're being extra cautious banning them all). An alternative is to use a Pack and Play for sleeping if you have one.

I'm very happy we're done with having kids. I can't imagine using ones with no drop-down side. Yikes ... my back hurts just thinking of it. Definitely expect to see a rise in back injuries among parents now.

My son is in a drop side still... My daughter slept in the same one. My son loves his crib tent on his... Which means he can't climb out. I guess my answer would be, as soon as he tries to climb out... Toddler bed it is.

This makes me thankful my son's crib has four solid sides. At first I thought it would be more convenient for me to have better access, but it was never a problem and now I know it is so much safer.

http://on.msnbc.com/h3Whtq The Consumer Product Safety Commission is there to help protect and educate us. Why isn't everyone heeding their advise??

Just because you haven't had an issue YET doesn't mean you never will. Just because some people THINK he will PROBABLY be okay, doesn't make it so. How would you feel if something terrible happened KNOWING this information? He doesn't have to climb to get into a compromised position. I hope you make the right decision.

Personally, I would keep him in the crib since you got all the parts necessary to fix it. My daughter never had an issue with her drop side crib. I am THE overly-protective momma and I would still have no issue for keeping him in there for 6 more months.

Do whatever makes you most comfortable. I used a hand-me-down drop-side crib that someone else bought at a garage sale and one of the runners was broken. We tied the whole side really well and kept it to the wall so you could not even wiggle it and I was not worried, but that is ME. My oldest did very well on a twin bed by 16 months or so when we were expecting our second. Our second was in the crib until he just turned 2 because we hadn't purchased another twin bed yet. He climbed out a few times, but it was not a major issue again since the drop-side was facing the wall. I think this issue is going to be very individual. The cribs are no more or less safe in light of this decision, so if you were not worried before in spite of the occassional injury and death then there is no reason that I can think of to panic now. Do whatever makes you and your husband feel safest with your own child, but I think buying a new crib at his age is a little unnecessary, especially if you do not think you'll be using it again. I'd probably go for the bed you already have.

How about a convertible crib. Then you can use it for a toddler bed, and a real bed and don't have to buy another one? I'm not comfortable with drop-side cribs and plan to talk to daycare about it today as that is what they use.

It's probably OK--you're aware of it.

Crib til 3 if he's not climbing out.

Hopefully you'll have a crib-angel kind of kid like mine. I should have left him in his (drop side) crib longer! And (my .02) toddler beds are a waste! Just get him a bed & side rails, if needed.

kkep him in the crib till he climbs out.. my kids were in cribs until they were 3 year and 3 1/2 years..

they feel safe and cozy in their cribs..