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Understanding the Crib Safety Standards
What do you need to do to comply with the crib safety regulations?
- Get the brand name and model number for each crib you are using. Keep this information on file.
Documentation to look for includes:
- Manufacturer's label on the crib
- Receipts and related materials from the time of purchase
- Each year, check to make sure that the crib(s) are safe by double-checking that they have not been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Look up whether or not they have been recalled by using the following link: http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/recalldb/prod.asp
Scroll down until you see the word “cribs”, highlight it with your mouse, then click “find”.
Use the following form to document this annual recall check:
- Monthly, check cribs for safety. This step is meant to ensure that programs are checking their cribs for damage and wear and tear that could be creating an unsafe condition for a vulnerable child in their care.
Use the following criteria to determine if a crib is unsafe.
For all cribs:
- No corner posts extend more than 1/16 of an inch (#1 on inspection checklist)
- No spaces between side slats exceed 2.375 inches (a rule of thumb for checking this is to push a pop can between the slats – if the width is wider than a pop can, it does not meet this criteria) (#2 on checklist)
- No mattress supports can be easily dislodged from any point of the crib (#3 on checklist)
- No cutout designs are present on end panels (#4 on checklist)
- No screws, bolts, or hardware are loose or not secured, and there is no use of woodscrews in components that are designed to be assembled and disassembled by the crib owner (#7 on checklist)
- No sharp edges, points, or rough surfaces are present (#8 on checklist)
- No wood surfaces are rough, splintered, split, or cracked (#9 on checklist)
- No gaps between the mattress and any sides of the crib are present (#12 on checklist)
For full-size cribs only, these are additional requirements:
- No heights of the rail and end panel are less than 26 inches when measured from the top of the rail or panel in the highest position to the top of the mattress support in its lowest position (#5 on checklist)
- No heights of the rail and end panel are less than 9 inches when measured from the top of the rail or panel in its lowest position to the top of the mattress support in its highest position (#6 on checklist)
For non-full-size cribs only, these are additional requirements:
- There are no tears in mesh of fabric sides in non-full-size cribs (#10 on checklist)
- No mattress pads in non-full-size mesh or fabric cribs exceed one inch (#11 on checklist)
If there are items on the checklist that do not apply to the full-size or non-full-size crib that is being inspected, it is suggested that you simply write “N/A” on the form for those items.
Click the links below for more specific information on each of the requirements:
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