home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Message-ID: <cribfaq_1036389601@ferret.ocunix.on.ca>
- Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!newsfeed.stanford.edu!cyclone.bc.net!torn!qcarhaaa.nortelnetworks.com!bcarh189.ca.nortel.com!zcarh46f.ca.nortel.com!ferret.ocunix.on.ca!not-for-mail
- Date: 4 Nov 2002 06:00:01 GMT
- Supersedes: <cribfaq_1035090002@ferret.ocunix.on.ca>
- Expires: 3 Dec 2002 06:00:01 GMT
- Subject: FAQ: Crib and Cradle Safety Regulations
- From: clewis@ferret.ocunix.on.ca (Chris Lewis)
- Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house,rec.woodworking,misc.kids.info,misc.answers,rec.answers,news.answers
- Followup-To: poster
- Summary: A summary of crib and cradle safety regulations.
- Approved: news-answers-request@mit.edu
- Reply-To: cribfaq@ferret.ocunix.on.ca (Crib FAQ commentary reception)
- Organization: eh?
- Lines: 229
- Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu misc.consumers.house:263258 rec.woodworking:780951 misc.kids.info:5552 misc.answers:15258 rec.answers:76851 news.answers:240719
-
- Archive-name: misc-kids/crib-safety-faq
- Last-modified: Wed Jan 25 23:48:39 EST 1995
-
- Editor/Author: Chris Lewis, clewis@ferret.ocunix.on.ca
- Comments-to: cribfaq@ferret.ocunix.on.ca
- (automatic if you reply to this posting)
-
- Copyright 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Chris Lewis
- Redistribution for-profit hereby prohibited without consent
- of the author. Redistribution via printed book or CDROM
- expressly prohibited without consent of the author.
-
- New or changed material is marked with a "|". You can skip to the
- new sections by typing "g^|" in most newsreaders.
-
- Changes this issue: See reference to US regulations, and US-specific change
- on corner posts.
-
- I will extend this from time-to-time as comments come in, or it
- seems appropriate to add new stuff. This is not formated as Q&A,
- just as a series of points.
-
- This is a summary of the "Crib and Cradle Safety" pamphlet published
- by the Ministry of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Canada.
- The date on the pamphlet seems to be 1987. I don't imagine that
- it's changed much since then. The pamphlet ID is:
-
- C&CC No 190 17342 B 87-07
-
- From what I've heard of US regulation, they're fairly close.
-
- More detailed US specifications are available from the US Consumer Product
- Safety Commission by writing them at:
-
- Publication Request
- Office of Information and Public Affairs
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Washington, D.C. 20207
-
- You should ask for publication #202 ("The Safe Nursery - A Buyer's Guide")
-
- These are probably a good start when you're determining the safety
- of an existing crib or are thinking of building your own. When in
- doubt, though, it is suggested that you obtain the latest applicable
- regulations. I've done my best to transcribe them accurately, but
- I do not warrantee the accuracy or current applicability of these
- rules.
-
- The measurements in this pamphlet are metric. I'll take a stab at
- the conversions, but if there's a conflict, take the metric.
- (for reference, you divide centimetres (cm) by 2.54 to get inches.
- There are 10 millimetres (mm) in a centimetre). Even if these
- are a direct copy of the USA's (or vice-versa) people should be
- aware that the actual US regulations will probably not be
- exact conversions (eg: it's been rounded off one way or the other)
-
- slat spacing: maximum: 6cm (2 3/8") [This may seem unreasonably
- narrow - no child that's likely to be at home is going to have a head
- *that* small. True. But a child's body can often slip through
- a gap only a little larger, resulting in strangulation when the
- child's head gets caught.]
-
- corner post protrusion (above rails/frame): 3mm max (1/8", 1/16" US)
-
- When the mattress support is at the lowest position and the drop side
- is at the highest, the top of the rail must be at least 66cm (26")
- above the top of the mattress support.
-
- When the mattress support is at its highest, and drop side at lowest,
- the top of the rail must be at least 23cm (9") above the top of the
- mattress support.
-
- Other rules:
- - drop side requires two separate positive and simultaneous
- actions to release the side, and engages automatically.
- - there must be no gap between the lower edge of the end panel
- and the upper edge of mattress support.
- - all small parts are firmly attached and able to withstand
- a 90 newton (20 pounds) of force, pull or push
- - there are no split, cracked or broken, loose or missing slats,
- or broken or missing hardware or screws
- - threaded bolt ends are either inaccessible or covered by
- an acorn nut
- - mattress support mechanisms are firmly attached so that they
- cannot be released with an upward push from under the mattress
- support.
- - there is no mmore than a 3cm (1 3/16") gap between the mattress
- and the sides or ends of the crib when the mattress is pushed
- into a corner.
- - the labeling on cribs, cradles and their containers clearly
- identifies the manufacturer, model number and date of manufacture.
- - all open holes are too small for a child's finger to become caught.
- - crib mattresses should be no thicker than 15cm (5 7/8").
- They should be kept in good condition. if they're too soft
- or worn down in any area, a gap or hollow may be created where
- a baby could become trapped and suffocate.
-
- Literature which must accompany the crib or cradle should:
- - state and show clearly how to assemble the product
- - contain a warning on proper use of the product, including a
- statement not to use it if the child is able to climb out
- unaided or, in the case of cribs, is taller than 90cm.
-
- Mattress support mechanisms:
- The mattress support mechanisms or hangers on some cribs may
- not be secure. Check them by rattling the mattress support,
- thumping the mattress from the top and repeating the thumping
- on the support from the bottom. If the support dislodges, your
- child's life could be in danger. To prevent this, prop up the
- mattress support firmly from underneath, perhaps by using large
- boxes.
-
- [Ed note: when in doubt, bolt it together. This one item is
- probably responsible for more deaths than all of the other problems
- put together]
-
- Precautions:
- - Some people like to protect the mattress with waterproof sheets -
- but these could hamper a child's breathing and should not be
- used.
-
- [Ed note: many new mattresses come with integral waterproof
- coverings. You should use a quilted mattress protector *and*
- a fitted mattress sheet (cotton or flannelette) over top.]
-
- - bumper pads are used to protect a baby's head if he or she happens
- pump it against the side of the crib. Bumper pads come protected
- with a plastic cover, which should be checked as often as possible.
- If it's punctured or torn, it could be chewed or torn even
- further, and a baby might swallow or inhale pieces of it and
- choke. A torn plastic cover also leads to holes in the bumper
- pad, and babies have been known to stick their heads in these
- holes and suffocate.
-
- Pointers:
- - Always make sure that your crib is assembled strictly in
- accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, and that
- each component is properly and securely in place at all
- times.
- - If you own a portable mesh crib, make certain that the drop side
- is fixed very securely in the raised position. Otherwise, the
- baby might roll into the mesh pocket formed when the drop side
- is not fully raised. The baby's head or chest could easily
- become compressed between the floor of the crib and the mesh
- side and the baby could suffocate.
- - Never leave a baby in a crib with something like a necklace,
- elastic, scarf or with a pacifier on a long cord...
- - People like to hang mobiles over cribs. These should be too
- far to be reached by a baby standing in the crib.
- - Babies should never be tied or harnessed in a crib.
- - As soon as your baby is able to sit up, remove crib exercisors
- or other toys that are strung over the crib.
- - As soon as your baby is able to stand, ensure that the mattress
- is at its lowest position, and remove the bumper pads from the
- crib, as well as any large toys that could serve as steps for
- climbing out.
- - Avoid using a crib with toeholds - ie: slat/spindle cribs with
- cross-bars in the head or foot board. There should be no foot
- hold that is less than the above side minimum height specifications
- from the top.
- - When your baby is old enough to climb out of the crib, it's time
- to stop using it.
-
- New rules/recommendations:
- - rocking cradles (rocker or swing type) should be designed so that
- they will rock less than 10 degrees when a child is all the way
- to one side, or be supplied with spring-loaded bolt locks.
- "Loose pin" locks are inadequate, because they may fall out or
- be forgotten or lost. If the cradle rocks more than 10 degrees
- under the weight of a child, very young children can roll into a
- corner, become entangled in the bedclothes, be unable to move
- and suffocate.
-
- Political Correctness:
-
- Some senior health officials consider having your child sleep in
- your bed with you to be extremely hazardous, because, asleep, you
- could roll over and crush or suffocate your child. Worse, some of
- these same officials, plus those in child welfare agencies consider
- it to be prima-facie evidence of child abuse, and being sufficient
- in itself to result in a child being removed into state care.
-
- Of course it's all horse manure. Having children sleep by themselves
- in cribs is a phenomena unique to just a few western cultures, and
- that only in the very recent past.
-
- However, some of these people have very broad discretionary powers,
- and caution is advised.
-
- [Canada only] If you have further questions, please contact your local
- office of Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada.
-
- Building your own crib/cradle (not from the pamphlet)
-
- Finishing:
-
- Ideally, you want to use a totally non-toxic finish, because some children
- tend to act like beavers.... The best solution is to use some sort of
- edible oil. Unfortunately, most of the vegetable oils (corn oil, sunflower
- oil et. al.) take a long time to dry, if at all, and under some circumstances
- will go rancid and smell and may cause a child some distress. Three oil
- finishes that are known to be suitable are:
-
- - pure tung oil (make sure it says it's *pure*. Most "tung oil"
- finishes are combined with metallic driers and solvents to improve
- hardness or speed up the drying)
- - walnut oil.
- - Behlen's salad bowl finish.
-
- It's recommended that you let these finishes dry for two weeks or longer.
-
- Some of the standard finishes will dry to a non-toxic state, but this
- will depend on the brand, and a long drying time. This FAQ will make
- no recommendations as to whether any are suitable.
-
- Mineral oil can be used because it is non-toxic, but it never really
- dries completely.
-
- Note that there have been reports that cribs painted with old-fashioned lead
- paints can actually have direct toxic affects on a child. If you obtain
- an old cradle (70's or earlier), it might be worth testing it for lead
- if it has a paint finish.
-
- Materials: Many woods can cause skin irritation or other problems.
- If you stick to a domestic hardwood (maple, cherry, walnut, poplar,
- pine, oak, beech etc.) and use a reasonable finish, the cradle will be
- safe. Woods to avoid without extra precautions are: most exotic
- hardwoods (especially rosewood, teak), cedar, juniper (aromatic cedar)
- and some of the less common domestics, such as Oleander and Mimosa.
-