Drop-side cribs banned!

[DisneyBamaFan]

No, my message had nothing to do with what the American people demand or don't demand...

Well, to me, you wrote (insert here Charlie Brown's teacher talking noises). I don't understand what your point is/was/might be. You have told me what it isn't without providding clarification about what it is.

 

[bicker]

Well, to me, you wrote (insert here Charlie Brown's teacher talking noises). I don't understand what your point is/was/might be. You have told me what it isn't without providding clarification about what it is.

That's not true. I wrote, "The fact is that society will react emotionally - irrationally - and so determinations about what government and industry must do in cases like this have to factor-in that fact." What isn't clear about that?

 

[Colleen27]

Precisely. And now there are parents who are struggling, and see the $69 crib and jump at the chance to do what they think is "right" by their child, when clearly their decision is radically different from the decision you made. Perhaps the ban should have been a ban on all cribs less than $500 (or some number). However, I don't see that any any less invasive. Perhaps then the ban should have been only applicable on cheap cribs, but that would then be viciously attacked by our rabid media at elitist. So we Americans have effectively boxed ourselves into a corner, eliminating all the other options.

I don't think anyone would attack a ban on certain manufacturing/assembly methods as elitist, even though it would apply disproportionately to the cheaper cribs. We as a society do that all the time, with every safety standard we set, and it is a far more reasonable solution than an outright ban when many (even most) of the objects in question are safe to use as intended.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

That's not true. I wrote, "The fact is that society will react emotionally - irrationally - and so determinations about what government and industry must do in cases like this have to factor-in that fact." What isn't clear about that?

Every word, to me. But say it again. Maybe I will get it next time.

 

[Colleen27]

I've seen some PSA type material... it's usually distributed with each unit. Are you saying that perhaps presenting commercials on television during prime time? Seems to me that a ban would be less expensive than that - a far better decision.

No, not television. There's no reason to go that far. But point-of-sale and packaging labeling, printed material distributed through OB/GYNs, birthing centers, or pediatricians, and a media campaign targeting parenting publications (particularly those free mags they offer all new/expectant mothers) could reach virtually all parents at far less cost than television ad time.

But the real question, I think, becomes who is paying - millions of dollars of useless products and forced redesigning and retooling to produce a new style of crib are preferable than a lower cost public awareness campaign because the costs of the former are borne by businesses while the latter would rest on government.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I am very glad I still have my youngest kids crib in the basement. I can' imagine not being able to put the side down, I am short andhave little arms. I will keep it safe and sound for my future grand kids!

My 14 year old and 9 year old used this crib and it was a hand me down from a family friend who used it for her 2 kids! Excellent crib and well made and sturdy!

I think they would have been better off raising the standards on current cribs. I am sure as we watch the statistics, the infant deaths will not change over the next decade. I also wonder how many will be injured or parents injured (backs) while trying to put tots in and out??

 

[bicker]

I don't think anyone would attack a ban on certain manufacturing/assembly methods as elitist

I disagree that people wouldn't attack a ban that was painted as punitive against cheaper cribs as elitist. What you're suggesting may be true, but it won't necessarily appear that way to the generally-irrational general public.

Beyond that, that rarely works though. They tried that approach in telecom, for a variety of consumer-facing aspects, and for each thing consumers whine incessantly that manufacturers have come up with ways to satisfy the requirements, complying with the specified methods, without satisfying what they feel the intent of the rules were (or perhaps really: should have been).

The only way an approach like that has a chance of succeeding is if the government does the engineering, and therefore manufacturers only have the right to implement those government-issued designs, rather than injecting their own innovation and creativity. I'm sure you realize just why that approach won't ever see the light of day.

I know people wish it were that easy, but it isn't. Again: We've crafted an environment where nothing is, and we pay for it, every day.

and it is a far more reasonable solution than an outright

I understand you believe that, but I bet that the folks responsible for actually making that decision disagree with you, and with respect I see more reason to believe them than you.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

nm...

 

[bicker]

I understand that it is fun to take baseless pot-shots at people who do things that you don't like. I think, though, that that's indicative of the problem with we Americans in general - the problem that you repeatedly claim to have not understood.

 

[justhat]

We have a drop side crib that I bought in 2004 for our 1st, and my 3rd is currently using it. I knew about the ban when she was a newborn, but we felt it was sturdy, all the pieces are metal, and it's all in good shape. While I always dropped the side down with #2 (#1 slept in that crib maybe 5 times. total.), I never drop it anymore and my daughter's mattress is on the lowest of 4 settings. My daughter goes into the crib awake about 95% of the time, so there's no reason to drop the side. But I did like the feature with my son, who often fell asleep in my arms or the car and transferred nicely.


But for the short people out there, fret not. The new fixed side cribs are built totally differently, so you'll have no problems getting your kids in and out without lowering the side. I am 5'3" and I have had no trouble when using my friend's fixed side crib. The difference it the drop side cribs are much higher. The lowest mattress setting on a drop side crib is way higher than the setting on the fixed side crib. Therefore, the front rail of the fixed side crib is lower. You're essentially lowering the baby to the ground, rather than hip height, or whatever it equates to in the drop sides. It's much, much easier to lay the baby down without lowering a rail when the rail and mattress height are much lower.

It's actually better for another reason, not just the infant deaths from the drop side cribs. But both of my older kids climbed out of the crib and fell from the high height of the drop side rail. In a fixed side crib, if they fall out, at least the trip to the ground is much closer.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

nm...

 

[Colleen27]

I disagree that people wouldn't attack a ban that was painted as punitive against cheaper cribs as elitist. What you're suggesting may be true, but it won't necessarily appear that way to the generally-irrational general public.

Beyond that, that rarely works though. They tried that approach in telecom, for a variety of consumer-facing aspects, and for each thing consumers whine incessantly that manufacturers have come up with ways to satisfy the requirements, complying with the specified methods, without satisfying what they feel the intent of the rules were (or perhaps really: should have been).

The only way an approach like that has a chance of succeeding is if the government does the engineering, and therefore manufacturers only have the right to implement those government-issued designs, rather than injecting their own innovation and creativity. I'm sure you realize just why that approach won't ever see the light of day.

I know people wish it were that easy, but it isn't. Again: We've crafted an environment where nothing is, and we pay for it, every day.

I understand you believe that, but I bet that the folks responsible for actually making that decision disagree with you, and with respect I see more reason to believe them than you.

The government doesn't engineer cars, yet they manage to set and modify safety standards. They don't throw up their hands and say they can't insist on seatbelts or airbags unless they design the entire vehicle. It can be done. There's just no will to do it, and I think a lot of that rests on the caliber of people we elect to make those decisions these days. The all-or-nothing mindset that is running things at the moment is a surefire way to make sure nothing rational gets done.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I think most cribs have had that option for decades now. The one I slept in as a baby did, as did the one we had when DD's were young.

When they're able to pull themselves up to kneel or stand, you have to drop the mattress. When ours was at the lowest setting I would have had to drop the baby into bed if I couldn't lower the side.

bolding is mine...
Sorry, but that comment made me laugh!

I guess my DDs' crib was double deadly as it was a double drop sided crib. it was purchased in 1992 and the only plastic part on it was the teething rail protectors. All of the bolts/fasteners/etc... are metal. I loved that crib and I am not short (5'8"ish) but with back problems as a result of the delivery of my second DD, I would've been in trouble!! It was not an inexpensive crib either, was very sturdy and well made. I guess even now, I wouldn't think of buying a crib at someplace such as Walmart, but I guess that would make me an elitist.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

My whole thing is that the overall quality of products has dropped significantly of late. My ILs crib from the 80s is in far better shape than my buddy's convertible crib (that we are currently using as a toddler bed.

Which begs the next question... are they still going to be able to sell convetible cribs?? That's going to be quite the design redesign...

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Pardon my double post... and my previous spelling of convertable... my hands are cold, I'm on my phone, and it's finals week. My brain is fried.

 

[JoiseyMom]

bolding is mine...
Sorry, but that comment made me laugh!

I guess my DDs' crib was double deadly as it was a double drop sided crib. it was purchased in 1992 and the only plastic part on it was the teething rail protectors. All of the bolts/fasteners/etc... are metal. I loved that crib and I am not short (5'8"ish) but with back problems as a result of the delivery of my second DD, I would've been in trouble!! It was not an inexpensive crib either, was very sturdy and well made. I guess even now, I wouldn't think of buying a crib at someplace such as Walmart, but I guess that would make me an elitist.

The crib I have in my basement is the same way, double drop sides. The one I had for my adult DS's was the same way.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

But for the short people out there, fret not. The new fixed side cribs are built totally differently, so you'll have no problems getting your kids in and out without lowering the side. I am 5'3" and I have had no trouble when using my friend's fixed side crib. The difference it the drop side cribs are much higher. The lowest mattress setting on a drop side crib is way higher than the setting on the fixed side crib. Therefore, the front rail of the fixed side crib is lower. You're essentially lowering the baby to the ground, rather than hip height, or whatever it equates to in the drop sides. It's much, much easier to lay the baby down without lowering a rail when the rail and mattress height are much lower.

It's actually better for another reason, not just the infant deaths from the drop side cribs. But both of my older kids climbed out of the crib and fell from the high height of the drop side rail. In a fixed side crib, if they fall out, at least the trip to the ground is much closer.

Thanks for clarifying this! We have a fixed-side crib for our son - it was purchased about 6 months ago and the list price was $700, but we got it for $200 because it was a floor model and had a few nicks (also, my FIL is great at negotiating!). My son is only 4 months old so he sleeps on the highest setting, but after reading the first couple pages on this thread, I went up and dropped the mattress to the lowest setting. I'm only 5'2" and I couldn't figure out why anyone would have that hard of a time getting a child in and out, even at that setting. It makes sense that my crib has lower sides than the cribs everyone is complaining about!

Also, to everyone stating that they have their old crib saved for their grandbabies... No offense, but I would not accept a crib that had been recalled, and I would not let my parents or in-laws watch my child if I knew they were going to use that same crib. Call me paranoid, but I would not feel comfortable putting my child in a recalled crib, even if it was the same crib that I had "survived". Lots of baby products have changed since I was a baby - no one would advocate using a car seat from the late 70's, just because the children who used it then turned out fine.

 

[princessmom29]

What about just wathching your kids??? I am another short mom who could not safely place a newborn in a crib without drop sides. I NEVER left DD in her crib and left the room without a baby monitor. I never left her in the crib and took a shower, went outside, ect. It is simply not safe. Cribs are not meant as child containment. The article talks about kids jumping up and down, running, and banging on cribs so much that thier moving parts fail. No child should be allwed to do that without being immediately removed from the crib.

 

[princessmom29]

Thanks for clarifying this! We have a fixed-side crib for our son - it was purchased about 6 months ago and the list price was $700, but we got it for $200 because it was a floor model and had a few nicks (also, my FIL is great at negotiating!). My son is only 4 months old so he sleeps on the highest setting, but after reading the first couple pages on this thread, I went up and dropped the mattress to the lowest setting. I'm only 5'2" and I couldn't figure out why anyone would have that hard of a time getting a child in and out, even at that setting. It makes sense that my crib has lower sides than the cribs everyone is complaining about!

Also, to everyone stating that they have their old crib saved for their grandbabies... No offense, but I would not accept a crib that had been recalled, and I would not let my parents or in-laws watch my child if I knew they were going to use that same crib. Call me paranoid, but I would not feel comfortable putting my child in a recalled crib, even if it was the same crib that I had "survived". Lots of baby products have changed since I was a baby - no one would advocate using a car seat from the late 70's, just because the children who used it then turned out fine.

yes, but this is going to lead to an entirely new set of problems as soon as ababy can pull up. Drop sode cribs are deep for a reason. It is harder to climb out. A shallower crib without drop sides is going to make it really easy for a mobile child to climb right over the side!!! I have seen the cribs you are talking about, and I cannot see how they are safe for a child that can pull up on the side and stand. THAT scares me a lot more that drop sides.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

What about just wathching your kids??? I am another short mom who could not safely place a newborn in a crib without drop sides. I NEVER left DD in her crib and left the room without a baby monitor. I never left her in the crib and took a shower, went outside, ect. It is simply not safe. Cribs are not meant as child containment. The article talks about kids jumping up and down, running, and banging on cribs so much that thier moving parts fail. No child should be allwed to do that without being immediately removed from the crib.

It takes a village.