Wednesday, Dec. 15, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously to ban the future manufacture, sale and resale of drop-side cribs. The move follows millions of recalls of drop-side cribs and more than 30 infant and toddler deaths in the past 10 years. Safety officials say the crib design is inherently dangerous, with malfunctioning or improperly assembled hardware leading to crib rails detaching and child entrapment, which can lead to strangulation or suffocation. The new standard requiring cribs to have fixed sides would take effect in June.

The CPSC says the new standard also would prohibit hotels and childcare centers from using drop-side cribs. All drop-side cribs at these facilities would have to be replaced within one year after the new rules take effect.

Additionally, the new safety standard mandates stricter safety testing for cribs that more closely mimic what happens when a child is in the crib. These tests in particular will take into account a child’s growth and how the crib can safely accommodate the larger child, and for how long. It also will require better labeling on cribs to help prevent mistakes in assembly that can make an otherwise safe crib deadly.

After the vote, CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said, “I believe these new standards will markedly reduce crib-related hazards and help to ensure that young children sleep more safely in their cribs.”

More than 9 million drop-side cribs have been recalled in the last five years.

Families who are currently using drop-side cribs or who purchase one before the ban takes effect are advised to carefully check the hardware on the cribs to make sure it is properly installed, They also should check the CPSC list of recalled cribs to make sure their crib has not been recalled.

For more information, visit the CPSC online.