Drop Side Cribs on the Verge of Ban in N.Y.
The website newsinferno.com is reporting that a New York senator will be introducing legislation to ban cribs that have a rail that drops down on the side. These drop side cribs make it easier for parents to be able to pick up their child when they are in the crib; however, the report states many unfortunate incidents have occurred due to malfunction in the crib rail.
The rail can easily slide down or completely fall off of the crib, which presents a dangerous hazard for the child in the crib. The report also states these cribs could present a suffocation or strangulation hazard. According to the report, the Consumer Products Safety Commission has issued recalls on more than 7 million of these cribs due to safety hazards for the child.
Drop side cribs have been used for many years and according to the report, have been known to cause many accidents that have led to fatalities in almost every case. Although drop side cribs have a convenient design for parents or caretakers and allow easy access into the crib, the danger that these types of cribs present for a child far outweighs the advantages for them. The number of fatalities compounds the problem of the danger these cribs present and make enacting legislation to ban them seem like a very viable and necessary measure. Although voluntary bans from major vendors may prevent the danger to an extent, enacting legislation ensures that the child’s safety is taken into consideration and ideally should completely remove the danger that children face with these cribs.
For more information on recalls and product liability issues, visit Solomon & Relihan's Product Liability information page.
