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ARTICLES
DROP-SIDE BABY CRIBS BANNED? PARENTS HAVE ALL THE POWER!
AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CONVERTIBLE BABY CRIB- AN EXCELLENT OPTION!!
Drop-Side Baby Cribs Banned? Parents Have All the Power!
You would never lay your baby down in a crib and walk away from them for the night if you weren't 100% certain that they would be warm, content, and safe from danger, right? As parents we rely upon our baby cribs to keep our babies contained and safe while they rest, which is why the injuries and deaths that have occurred to babies as a result of faulty cribs over the past few years is so unsettling for parents everywhere.
Millions of baby cribs have been recalled over the past few years and the vast majority of them were due to baby injuries and deaths as a result of drop-side crib mechanisms. A drop-side crib is a design that allows the front side rail to drop down so parents have easy access to the baby.
Some of the dangers to babies with this crib design include:
* Getting pinched in the dropping rail as it is raised or lowered.
* Getting stuck in the side of the crib after a portion of the side rail detaches from the rest of the crib.
* Being strangled to death as their heads get stuck in holes that form between the mattress and the drop-side rail, due to missing hardware, incorrect assembly, and basic wear over time.
* Improper assembly can cause the rail to come lose over time, presenting a variety of potential dangers to the baby.
As injuries, deaths, and recalls continued to be released over recent years public outcry from parents who were fearful for the safety of their children became louder. Manufacturers started testing cribs to ensure they were safe, but as the injuries, deaths and recalls continued to come out and many were for baby cribs that passed the testing, it was quite clear that the testing was a failure.
In 2009, Toys R Us took a stand and decided to stop stocking drop-side baby cribs. Right now they are joining crib manufacturers and consumer advocate organizations in an attempt to make this style of crib illegal in the U.S. They have accepted that this style of crib simply is not safe for our babies!
An actual ban would prevent new drop-side cribs from being sold in the country, but the only ones who can really take action are you...the parents! You are the only ones who can rid the country of drop-side crib dangers by deciding to purchase cribs with four stable, secure rails instead.
You the parents really have the power here, so it's up to you to decide whether drop-side cribs are worth the dangers to your babies or not. Some actions that you can take to help secure the safety of your baby and others include:
* Not purchasing used cribs from those you don't know or from yard sales.
* Checking that any used crib you do purchase has all instructions and parts included.
* Checking and rechecking that you put your baby cribs together correctly.
* Checking our cribs for missing or loose pieces or other defects on a routine basis.
* Purchasing new cribs with stable, secure rails on all sides.
A ban will take months if not years to officially go into action, but parents can join together to take action immediately. If you are in the market for a new crib seriously consider what is the best for your new baby. What risks are you willing to take?
AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CONVERTIBLE BABY CRIB- AN EXCELLENT OPTION!!
Wow!! You found out you are expecting a precious child! Surely there are a multitude of things floating around in your head about what you need to do to prepare for your new arrival. Your first priority, regardless of where you start is your baby’s safety. Since your child will likely be spending the majority of his or her time, especially the first year, sleeping, your baby crib will be a great place to start. Researching which baby crib will be best for your child can be overwhelming once you realize how many options are out there.
One option which I have fallen in love with is an environmentally friendly, convertible baby crib. When used in conjunction with an organic and chemical free mattress, and a baby monitor which allows you to hear every sound your baby makes as well as shows every movement your child makes down to a subtle in-take of breath, you can rest assured, your baby is safe and secure in a loving, and completely monitored environment. We are sound proponents of the idea that there are never too many ways to protect your child in every way possible, especially from SIDS, an overwhelming fear that all parents face.
The convertible baby crib is a great option because it is designed with the flexibility to grow with your child from infancy to toddlerhood through teen years and beyond. There are organic and chemical free baby crib mattress styles available that will grow with your baby up through toddlerhood. The baby crib mattress can be used for the toddler bed once the bed is converted. A convertible baby crib, often called a 4-in-1 baby crib converts the following ways:
Baby crib- Can be used from infancy up through early phases of toddlerhood. There is often an 8 position, adjustable height mattress support which enables you to start with your mattress in a high level bassinette position, and dropping it down as your baby gains more motor control and overall physical abilities.
Toddler bed- When your child has outgrown the need for an enclosed bed or has started climbing out on a regular basis, this if often your signal that it is time for the next phase. You take off the front side of your convertible bed and add the ¾ guard rail which is helpful while they learn to stay in bed and not roll out.
Toddler day bed- Now that your child is acclimated to sleeping in bed and not falling out of bed, you can take off the guard rail and convert your toddler bed to a toddler day bed.
Full size bed- When your child has outgrown the toddler bed, you can convert the entire system to a full size bed however this will require a conversion kit of rails and slats. A nice addition as well is under bed storage units.. extra storage is never a bad thing. Especially when your child goes off to college!
As far as cost goes, pricing can vary. When you look at your investment, over time.. or from infancy through adulthood, you will be spending much, much less one bed, vs. multiple beds over the years. The only additional cost you will eventually require is a full size mattress (also available organically) once your child has outgrown the toddler configuration.
Notes about manufacturers:
Naturepedic is JPMA certified and an award winning manufacturer of organic and chemical free mattresses.
Atlantic Furniture is JPMA certified. They are an eco-friendly modular furniture manufacturing company as well as specializing in high quality, convertible baby crib options.
Angelcare is indispensible in baby safety through it’s’ collections of nursery monitors.
