After the deaths of more than 30 infants and toddlers in the past decade and millions of recalls, the government has outlawed drop-side cribs. It's the end of the traditional crib that has cradled millions of babies for generations. The government has outlawed drop-side cribs after the deaths of more than 30 infants and toddlers in the past decade and millions of recalls.

It was a unanimous vote by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban the manufacture, sale and resale of the cribs, which have a side rail that moves up and down, allowing parents to more easily lift their child from the crib.

The new standard requiring cribs to have fixed sides would take effect in June. The move by CPSC would also prohibit hotels and childcare centers from using drop-sides, though those facilities would have two years to purchase new cribs. CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum hailed the new standard for cribs as one of the strongest in the world.

 "I believe these new standards will markedly reduce crib-related hazards and help to ensure that young children sleep more safely in their cribs," Tenenbaum said after the vote.

Around for decades, drop-side cribs have come under scrutiny in recent years because of malfunctioning hardware, sometimes less expensive plastics, or assembly problems that can lead to the drop-side rail partially detaching from the crib. When that happens, it can create a dangerous "V'-like gap between the mattress and side rail where a baby can get caught and suffocate or strangle. In all, drop-side cribs have been blamed in the deaths of at least 32 infants and toddlers since 2000 and are suspected in another 14 infant fatalities.

In the past five years, more than 9 million drop-side cribs have been recalled, including cribs from big-name companies such as Evenflo, Delta Enterprise Corp., and Pottery Barn Kids. Michele Witte of Merrick, N.Y., lost her 10-month-old son, Tyler, in 1997 when the drop-side rail on his crib came loose, partially detached and then trapped his neck between the rail and the headboard.

"It's been a long 13 years," said Witte. "I feel like it's a celebratory time because things are finally being done about the issue." Witte appeared at a news conference on Capitol Hill with Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., all of whom have pushed for stronger crib safety rules.

The new standard mandates tougher safety testing for cribs, tests that more closely mimic a child in a crib. As children get older, they can apply more force to the crib — shaking on it, running around in it, jumping up and down. The new tests aim to make sure the cribs can take that kind of pressure. Better labeling on crib pieces will also be required — a measure that aims to cut down on the misassembly problems that some parents have encountered, problems that can lead to the death of a child.

Parents who lost their children in drop-side cribs say today's ban couldn't come soon enough. Chad Johns, whose 9-month-old son, Liam, died in a drop-side crib in 2005, said he was a little relieved. "Yes, it's a long time coming," said Johns from Roseville, Calif. "But the fact that it is happening — that's what is important." Crib makers were already phasing out drop-side cribs over the last couple years, amid increasing problems with them. And last year, the organization that sets voluntary industry standards — ASTM International — approved a drop-side ban.

Many parents, however, still have drop-sides in their homes. They can also be found at secondhand stores. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, which represents over 90 percent of the crib industry, says properly assembled drop-sides that haven't been recalled can be safely used.

Source: Associated Press

Rear-facing, forward-facing, booster seats? Child safety seat rules are among the top of the list of parent's concerns. Often, parents don't know when to transition their infant from rear-facing to forward-facing or when to graduate their child from a child safety seat to a booster seat.

We asked Susan A. Helms, R.N., M.A.L.S., director of Safe Kids Mid-South, what are the guidelines that parents and caregivers need to follow.
 
"There are four stages of child passenger safety as children grow, from infant seats to the time they are ready for an adult safety belt alone. Always follow the child safety seat manufacturer's instructions for the exact weight and height limits. Check your vehicle owner's manual, too. Here are the rules and how they apply:

REAR-FACING SEATS go in the back seat. Infants should ride rear-facing from birth to as long as possible according to the upper weight and height limits of the child safety seat, but should never ride forward-facing before reaching their first birthday and 20 pounds.

FORWARD-FACING SEATS go in the back seat. Children should ride forward-facing in a five-point harness until reaching the upper limits of the harness, which is usually 40- 65 pounds, and when they are approximately 4 years old. Allow toddlers plenty of time to grow and gain weight and height before moving them to a booster seat.

BOOSTER SEATS go in the back seat. Children from approximately age 4 to at least age 9, unless 4 feet 9 inches tall, should ride in a Booster Seat. 

ADULT SAFETY SEAT BELTS are for children age 9 and older or for those children who taller than 4 feet 9 inches. All children age 12 and younger should ride in the back seat.

Child safety seats save lives when they are installed properly. Unfortunately, at least nine out of 10 children in a child safety seat are not buckled in properly. Learn to correctly use the child safety seat by reviewing the instructions from the child safety seat manufacturer as well as the vehicle owner's manual. If you need assistance, a child passenger safety technician can help.

Safe Kids Mid-South schedules on-going child safety seat check ups at Safe Kids-sponsored events. Dates and times are posted on this BLOG or you can schedule a personal appointment by calling (901) 287-6730."

There have been several reported cases where children have become trapped in the shoulder portion of a vehicle's safety belt. In certain cases, once the safety belt is fully extended, it becomes locked.  While this feature makes it easy to secure a child's safety seat in a vehicle, it may create a strangulation hazard for any child that can reach the safety belt and may wrap it around his or her neck. This risk applies not only to children riding on a booster seat or with an adult safety belt, but to any child sitting in a back seat with access to a safety belt.

Parents may choose to convert unused safety belts to the "locked" position by buckling them and then extending all the webbing from the retractor to switch the belt into a "locked" position. The retractor is the car part that rolls up excess webbing to keep the safety belt from dangling or hanging loose.

Parents should properly restrain their children in the child safety seat that is appropriate for their height and weight, and keep unused safety belt straps out of reach of children riding in a back seat.

Also, children should never be left alone in a vehicle, where they could play with the straps. Treat safety belts as you would any cord.

A recent study of child development and accidental injury released  by Safe Kids USA links age-appropriate safety tips to an extensive analysis of research on children’s cognitive, behavioral and physical development. The results create a blueprint of necessary safety recommendations for parents and caregivers to follow as children grow.

This report highlights precisely when and why those precautions are essential.  Understanding children’s cognitive, behavioral and physical abilities and limitations at various stages is the first step in being able to foresee and prevent serious injuries.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than six million unintentional injuries to children ages 0 to 14 in 2007 that required care in an emergency room. This translates into 12 injuries per minute – nearly all of which are preventable. Although the childhood injury death rate in the U.S. has dropped by 45 percent in the 22 years Safe Kids has been in operation, unintentional injury remains the leading cause of death and disability in children ages 1 to 14 in the U.S. Some highlights from this report are outline below:

Did you know that infants…?

Have spines that are not fully developed, leaving them vulnerable to injury if they are not correctly positioned in a vehicle. They have a slower digestion rate and a lower tolerance for medication. Their skin is thinner and more sensitive, meaning it can burn more quickly than that of an adult.

To keep your infant safer:

• Use a rear-facing, semi-reclined child safety seat until your baby is at least age 1 and 20 pounds. Use a rear-facing car seat longer if the seat has higher weight and height limits. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends up to 2 years!
• Always follow directions and read labels when giving your baby medicine to avoid over-medicating.
• Do not hold an infant while cooking or carrying hot liquids and foods.

Did you know that children 1 to 4 years old…?

Have muscles and bones not yet fully developed. They are also still learning how to balance themselves and adjust their stance to avoid falls. They may wander off unsupervised to explore cupboards and drawers that may contain chemicals and poisons in them.

To keep your 1-to 4-year old safer:

• Provide safe places to play. Only allow your child to play on playgrounds with 12 inches of safe surfaces such as shredded rubber, hardwood fiber/mulch or fine sand below the equipment to create a softer landing in case of a fall.
• Install stair gates so your curious child will not fall down stairs, and secure furniture to the wall to avoid it tipping over on them if they try to climb on it.
• Keep medicines and poisonous household items locked up and out of reach. Also, choose products with child-resistant packaging.

Did you know that children 5 to 9 years old…?

Have trouble recognizing and avoiding obstacles and lack an adult’s hand-eye coordination abilities. They are also at higher risk for cooking-related scald injuries, especially from tableware and microwave ovens. If a child is too small for a seat belt, he/she is at risk for serious injuries to the head, face and internal organs.

To keep your 5- to 9-year old safer:

• Make sure children wear a helmet and protective gear every time they are on wheels.
• Do not allow children to use a microwave until they are tall enough to reach the items in it safely and understand that steam can cause burns. Children at this age are at a higher risk of cooking-related scald injuries than adults.
• Keep children in booster seats with the vehicle lap and shoulder safety belts until the seat belt fits correctly.

Did you know that early adolescents…?

Have less defined visual perception than older teens and lack the ability to recognize a specific object from within a busy background. This is an important skill to identify oncoming cars in busy intersections. They are more likely to be completely unrestrained in a car than younger children and participate in risky behavior. They also may want to experiment with substances without adult supervision.

To keep your 10- to 14-year old safer:

• Make sure your child wears a helmet and protective gear every time he/she is on a bike, scooter, skateboard or inline skates – make this non-negotiable and lead by example.
• Talk to them about car safety. Once your child passes the Safety Belt Fit Test, teach him/her to wear a seat belt every time.
• Talk to your child about the dangers of poisonous items such as gasoline, spray paint and medicines.
   Your child’s physical, behavioral and cognitive abilities should affect the precautions you take.  Serious injuries have effects lasting well into adulthood, such as spinal cord injuries and brain damage, which also lead to costly emergency department and hospital  bills, missed school days, and limited future life experience and employment opportunities.  The good news is that most of these injuries can be prevented if you take the right steps.
  

We support the new research by the American Academy of Pediatrics that says toddlers are more than five times safer riding rear-facing in a child safety seat up to their second birthday. Here are some tips:

• All infants should ride rear-facing in either an infant child safety seat or a convertible child safety seat (one that is used in both rear-facing and forward-facing positions).

• If an infant child safety seat is used, the infant should be moved to a rear-facing convertible child safety seat when the maximum weight (usually 22 to 32 pounds) and height (when the infant’s head is within 1 inch of the top of the seat) have been reached and as stated in the child safety seat manufacturer’s instructions.

• Toddlers should remain rear-facing in a convertible child safety seat until they have reached the maximum weight and height recommended for that model, or at least the age of 2.

• To see if your child safety seat is installed properly, call the coalition and ask for a certified passenger safety technician to assist you.

On A Special Note

In Sweden, child safety seats are engineered differently than US models and children ride rear-facing to age 4. Death rates in Sweden are much lower than in this country.

The feet of children rear-facing may touch the back of the vehicle seat raising parent’s concern about potential injury to the lower extremities. To date, no injury has been reported by this mechanism, but even then, the risk of serious injury to the head, neck and spine which occur in infants forward-facing far outweigh the potential risk of injury to the lower extremities.

We are all looking for ways to cut corners, but I am concerned that some parents who are trying to save money might be buying cheaper, second-hand items that can actually be dangerous to their children, including:  

Child Safety Seats
Child Safety Seats should not be used if they have been involved in an accident and also are only good for a certain number of years, so a second-hand child safety with no known history should be avoided at all costs.   

Play Yards and Cribs
Children spend many unsupervised hours sleeping, which makes it critical that their beds be the safest place in the house.  Unfortunately, millions of cribs and portable child beds have been recalled in recent years for having faulty parts that can cause children to strangle and die.  If you are thinking of using a second hand crib, please check and see it if has been recalled for safety reasons.  

Also, you need to know what to look for when buying a bed – even if it hasn’t been recalled it could be too old so that it doesn’t meet current safety standards (slats are too far apart and child can strangle/pieces on the bed where a child’s clothing can get caught and strangle them) or in disrepair.  Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Web site – www.cpsc.gov to see if a crib has been recalled and check the Safe Kids Crib Safety Checklist for crib guidelines.  

Toys
Many toys in circulation have high and dangerous levels of lead, some have magnet danger issues.  Check again with www.cpsc.gov to see if a toy has been recalled and shop for more traditional toys such as art supplies, and wooden toys that are from manufacturers known not to use lead paint.  When in doubt, don’t buy the toy.  

What can YOU do?  You can sign up to receive immediate e-mails when dangerous products are recalled via www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx and can check on previous recalls at www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html.  The notices have photos and/or descriptions of the products to help parents determine if they own the product.