Drop-side cribs banned!

[kwitcherkicken99]

And now I'm stuck trying to figure out what to do with it.

See... that's just the thing! Where are we supposed to take them now? They are now "illegal" to resell... so we take them all to the dump? Oy! What a pain!

I wish they would stop trying to protect us from ourselves... the regulations SHOULD come down on the companies producing inferior products. If they made a good product (like they used to), there wouldn't be this issue!

 

[brymolmom]

Yes, but I and many others can not safely place a child on the matress at the lowest level, so it is not useable. On the ones I have seen (shopping with a friend) I would have to let the baby go about 6 inches above the matress. The first and second levels, IMO, are not safe for a child that can pull up. It would be too easy for them to fall out.

When they are infants and can't pull up - then they go on the highest setting. When they are bigger and standing, etc - you drop it way low because you don't have to reach all the way in - they stand for you. Or you could even go to a toddler bed shortly after this point. I did it early because my mom has MS and really couldn't pick up the babies to pull them out and over the crib. And she babysits quite a bit. So both my kids were in toddler beds early. That's another option for parents after they get a bit bigger.

I'm sure it's not as easy as the drop - sides. But cribs were used for a long time before drop-sides came around, so I'm sure it's doable even for the short statured.

That said - for people who really want them - I'm sure there will be lots and lots of drop sides available from friends and relatives for years to come.

 

[herdtoDisney]

It is not the concept of the bed that is faulty, it is the construction.

Years and years of no problems of this happening because they used solid wood and metal to hold the crib together and drop the side. If you compare the construction of a crib made decades ago to a crib made now, the materials used are cheaper.

Yes, I noticed this too. My crib was made in 1992 and the drop-side parts are all sturdy metal-in fact, the side is on metal rails that go from top to bottom, so it couldn't even partially detach. I noticed, in recent years, that now the drop-side parts are just plastic brackets. I'd rather have a fixed-side than that. I used my crib for 5 kids (and still have it) and it wasn't even an expensive one-just better constructed than now.

 

[Danibelle]

Wow! I didn't realize that this change was coming. I knew about some deaths but I used a double drop side for my (now adult) kids and they did not fall out or climb out. My son uses a stationary side crib for DGS 1. He stands up when he wants to get up and we just lift him out. I have some back issues and I can still get DGS out of the crib. There have been so many changes (helmets on bikes, for example) and I think as we learn more, we will make changes in our child care practices (and this is good).

 

[Purseval]

See... that's just the thing! Where are we supposed to take them now? They are now "illegal" to resell... so we take them all to the dump? Oy! What a pain!

O seriously doubt that they will be made illegal for individuals to sell or give to other individuals. In fact they will probably fetch a premium as they gradually get scarcer. They will ban stores, consignment shops and thrift shops but they can't go around to every neighborhood yard sale looking to arrest criminal cribsellers.

We have one in our attic now that we were saving for when my children start having children. We have no intention of getting rid of it. When my daughter was a baby we used the high chair that my sister used when she was a baby in 1962, There is no need to dispose of quality items no matter what the nanny government thinks.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

O seriously doubt that they will be made illegal for individuals to sell or give to other individuals. In fact they will probably fetch a premium as they gradually get scarcer. They will ban stores, consignment shops and thrift shops but they can't go around to every neighborhood yard sale looking to arrest criminal cribsellers

People may place them in yard sales, but all it will take is for one kid to get hurt, the parents hunt down the sale-ee and then all *h* breaks loose.

 

[Wiloughby1]

We have a Bellini dropside crib and my parents bought one at the same time to keep at their house. Very high-end, all wood and metal. The drop side doesn't even shake. We love the crib and trust it far more than a low end or mass produced high end stationary rail crib. Of course, we lucked into being able to afford such a thing. My grandmother had just passed and left money to my parents. If there are less fortunate moms out there who buy what they can afford, I guess it is better to have slightly safer options on the market.

That being said, I am still using my Bellini and am really happy that they are convertible. They'll become toddler beds and full sized beds, so I don't feel like they'll head to the dump. DD is 14 months now. DS climbed out of the lowest setting at 18mos, so I figure her rail is coming off in the not too distant future.

We too put put both of our kids down drowsy but awake. We will occasionally let them cry, but not rail shaking tantrums.

I agree with a pp who said car seat safety is more important statistically. I'm keeping DD is a drop-side crib, but she'll be rear facing until 35lbs. She's only 19lbs now, so she may be 3 before she turns around!

 

[CandyMandy]

O seriously doubt that they will be made illegal for individuals to sell or give to other individuals. In fact they will probably fetch a premium as they gradually get scarcer.

Bingo - we have a beautiful oak one that was perfectly safe for our two children when they were infants back in the early and mid 90s. It now sits up in our attic gathering dust and every time I am up there, I sadly look at it, thinking "this really should be in use for another child." So I will be keeping an eye on the local resale market going forward!

 

[princessmom29]

When they are infants and can't pull up - then they go on the highest setting. When they are bigger and standing, etc - you drop it way low because you don't have to reach all the way in - they stand for you. Or you could even go to a toddler bed shortly after this point. I did it early because my mom has MS and really couldn't pick up the babies to pull them out and over the crib. And she babysits quite a bit. So both my kids were in toddler beds early. That's another option for parents after they get a bit bigger.

I'm sure it's not as easy as the drop - sides. But cribs were used for a long time before drop-sides came around, so I'm sure it's doable even for the short statured.

That said - for people who really want them - I'm sure there will be lots and lots of drop sides available from friends and relatives for years to come.

Iti s nto as cut and dried as that. There is a massive amount of gray area between an infant who cannot roll over, and a baby that can stand to be picked up. Once a baby roll over, the mattress needs to be dropped. The top most setting is not safe at that point. Once a baby can pull up, it needs to go all the way down. A baby jus pulling up is not going to stand for you to get them out, and what about putting a tired or already asleep child into the crib? How about when they are asleep and you need to get them out? My DD scooted all the way to the back corner of her crib to sleep and I had trouble getting to her even with a drop side. I worked, and had to get her up in the mornings to take her to daycare. She slept HARD and I had to physically pick her up to wake her. I would have to use a step stool to do that with a crib that didn't drop. I would never do that. Iti s just too much risk. A 6-8 month old infant just starting to pull up is NOT safe in a toddler bed, or at a level where I could reach them in a crib. I think a drop side is still safer than dropping the 6 month old over the side.
Most cribs that were used before drop sides had much shorter legs, or sat on the floor. That would be a viable option. Make fixed side cribs lower to the ground so that everone could use them. I haven't seen a fixed side on the market to date that I could safely use on the lowest mattress setting.

 

[RooRach0906]

What is the point of those mid-level levels? Dropped the mattress down is a PITA. When I do it, I do it once and drop it all the way down.

Our is simple to drop down and not a pain it was 5 minutes and it was done. We moved our to the middle level about 2 weeks ago because DD is crawling and would get up on all fours in her crib and I did not feel it was safe at the highest position because the top of her head was even with the rail if she was on all four so down it went she doesnt pull up or stand yet so I am not moving it to the lowest level. (Just an example of the point of the middle level.)

 

[brymolmom]

Iti s nto as cut and dried as that. There is a massive amount of gray area between an infant who cannot roll over, and a baby that can stand to be picked up. Once a baby roll over, the mattress needs to be dropped. The top most setting is not safe at that point. Once a baby can pull up, it needs to go all the way down. A baby jus pulling up is not going to stand for you to get them out, and what about putting a tired or already asleep child into the crib? How about when they are asleep and you need to get them out? My DD scooted all the way to the back corner of her crib to sleep and I had trouble getting to her even with a drop side. I worked, and had to get her up in the mornings to take her to daycare. She slept HARD and I had to physically pick her up to wake her. I would have to use a step stool to do that with a crib that didn't drop. I would never do that. Iti s just too much risk. A 6-8 month old infant just starting to pull up is NOT safe in a toddler bed, or at a level where I could reach them in a crib. I think a drop side is still safer than dropping the 6 month old over the side.
Most cribs that were used before drop sides had much shorter legs, or sat on the floor. That would be a viable option. Make fixed side cribs lower to the ground so that everone could use them. I haven't seen a fixed side on the market to date that I could safely use on the lowest mattress setting.

I think that is a great idea! You should take it on one of those 'my unique invention' shows!

 

[2binak]

The industry is going to have to come up with some sort of alternative for people like me who medically, cannot bend. I have a fused spine and simply cannot bend over a crib. I tried every drop & stationary side crib in our area when we had DD and even some of the drop side cribs were too high. I really don't know what people in the same situation as me are going to do without a dropside.

 

[squirrel]

I think it's odd that they have banned the drop sided cribs in the US but baby walkers are okay. Baby walkers have been banned up here in Canada for years.

I also wonder how many of those drop sided deaths were because the side wasn't actually latched - one side was locked but not the other.

 

[Leajess99]

Honestly, what is going to end up happening is a lot of babies are going to be placed in a lot less safe sleeping areas. Co-sleeping will be on the rise (not saying it is bad for all people but some people should not cosleep with their child and a friend many years back lost her son to cosleeping as her dh was a heavy sleeper and rolled over on top of the child.

As for the drop sided cribs, I had 3 different ones with my kids as all are 5 years apart and I had always gotten rid of baby stuff since I did not plan for more after each child. All of mine also were made with the real wood and metal. My youngest's actually came from a yard sale but it passed all the safety tests and was very solid. She was out of it early due to climbing out of it early. We never used the in between levels as you just never know when a child will pull up.

 

[Purseval]

I think it's odd that they have banned the drop sided cribs in the US but baby walkers are okay. Baby walkers have been banned up here in Canada for years.

Because Canada is even more of a nanny state than the US

When my kids were babies they both had a wonderful time with something called a Johnny Jumper. We had a wide opening between rooms and we attached it right in the middle. What great times they had with it

When my Stepdaughter had a baby we went looking to get her a Johnny Jumper and found out they also had been banned Luckily we found one in a yard sale. Her baby also had a ball with it and she's saving it for future children.

If the government could figure out how to do it they'd ban lightning because they don't think twice about banning items with a smaller chance of injuring your child than a lightning strike

 

[talulabelle]

uhhgg. I don't know what to do. I have a Simmons dropside that I have used for all 4 of my children without any incident for the last 14 years. I was planning on using it for the little surprise baby I'm expecting in March. I remember that it had a plastic piece that operated the side that was broken and that was why we took our last baby out of a crib a little early and put him in a toddler bed. I had planned on replacing that piece before I used it again.

Now , I'm not so sure. If my baby gets so much as a hangnail in that crib I will blame myself. I don't think it's worth the worry, I will probably just buy a new crib, which drives me nuts since this will certainly be my last baby, and I hate to have to buy new after all these years.

 

[Ariel on Land]

I just wish instead of banning them, they'd just force the manufacturers to make QUALITY cribs with solid metal hardware like they used to. THe problem is the PLASTIC hardware on these things.... It's a big pain in the neck to change crib sheets with the sides up or lay down a sleeping toddler, who has to have the mattress at the lowest setting.

 

[rparmfamily]

I just wish instead of banning them, they'd just force the manufacturers to make QUALITY cribs with solid metal hardware like they used to. THe problem is the PLASTIC hardware on these things.... It's a big pain in the neck to change crib sheets with the sides up or lay down a sleeping toddler, who has to have the mattress at the lowest setting.

I agree. The cribs are such crap now.

I had a nicely made solid wood and metal dropside with my first 2 (ages 10/8) and I loved my drop side. This time I got a sleigh style crib (fixed side) and it was recalled when she was 2 months old. Now I have a solid wood fixed side and I can't reach the mattress...so yes, I have to drop my baby down into it a few inches. I HATE THAT. When we were exchanging the recalled crib at BRU, I forgot to check how low the setting went since my DD was only 2 mo and at the highest setting. Plus the crib frame is all screwed together so it's not like it's easy to drop the frame down.

Honestly we co-sleep until about 8 months...then transition to a crib.

 

[luckylady131]

Because Canada is even more of a nanny state than the US

When my kids were babies they both had a wonderful time with something called a Johnny Jumper. We had a wide opening between rooms and we attached it right in the middle. What great times they had with it

When my Stepdaughter had a baby we went looking to get her a Johnny Jumper and found out they also had been banned Luckily we found one in a yard sale. Her baby also had a ball with it and she's saving it for future children.

If the government could figure out how to do it they'd ban lightning because they don't think twice about banning items with a smaller chance of injuring your child than a lightning strike

My 4 year slept in a drop side crib for 2.5 years just wonderfully (seriously - she LOVED her bed!). Then we took the front rail off to make it a day bed, where she slept wonderfully. I still have that crib. Not sure what to do with it. It's in excellent shape, and has never been recalled.

I also have a doorway jumper that I had from when she was a baby. She adored that thing!! Hours and hours of fun for her (and sanity for us!). Now my newest addition happily jumps in it. Never once was a finger smashed or injuries of any kind. The doorway where it is hanging has a double french door way and leads into a study so there's plenty of room on either side.

Oh, and my 4 year old toodled around the house in a walker. And so does my baby now. But I live in a one story house - no stairs. Our previous house did have stairs, but the walker never went up there. We have all tile now, and our 9 month old knows how to speed through the house, slide around corners and chase after you. It's hilarious to watch!

 

[mamaLori05]

Because Canada is even more of a nanny state than the US

When my kids were babies they both had a wonderful time with something called a Johnny Jumper. We had a wide opening between rooms and we attached it right in the middle. What great times they had with it

When my Stepdaughter had a baby we went looking to get her a Johnny Jumper and found out they also had been banned Luckily we found one in a yard sale. Her baby also had a ball with it and she's saving it for future children.

If the government could figure out how to do it they'd ban lightning because they don't think twice about banning items with a smaller chance of injuring your child than a lightning strike

I wonder where you live? They are not banned in Wisconsin, and are sold all over the place. I'm assuming it's the bouncing little chair you attach to the top of a doorway? That's what I've alwasy called a Johnny jumper anyway. Like this one: http://www.target.com/Graco-Bumper-...om_size-bin,target_com_brand-bin&frombrowse=0. Just pulled that one up at Target.com.