Did you know that more than 11 million cribs, bassinets, and play pens have been recalled since 2007? The place that your child is sleeping may appear to be safe, but is it really? Some cribs are fragile, and can collapse at the slightest jarring movement. Others have small latches where small fingers can be caught, causing injury. Other cribs have large spaces between the slats, bringing on the potential for your infant to get his or her head stuck. Doubtless you want to keep your little one safe, which is why is essential that you take precaution when dealing with cribs, bassinets, or play yards.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission, the federal government is issuing new manufacturing standards that will be applied to all cribs, bassinets and play yards from here on out. Now, all companies that manufacture these pieces of baby furniture will need to make sure that their cribs don’t have the traditional drop-downside. Years have shown that babies can tamper with the drop down, pinching their fingers or tumbling over the side. As well, all new cribs must have strong slats so that the baby will not break them with a kick. Weak wood can splinter upon impact, causing lacerations or impalement.

The USCPSC also says that they want to improve the mattress support durability in cribs. Some cribs have been manufactured so that the mattress support weakens with time. Eventually, a baby can be resting in the crib when the bottom will cave downward and send the baby falling. The commission also wants to perform more tests on all cribs before they are sold to make sure that they will be safe for use. They are going to make sure that manufacturers make their hardware stronger so that babies won’t be able to unintentionally disassemble the crib.

One of the greatest dangers to baby safety is a poorly put together crib. A lot of times, these furniture pieces are purchased in a box, and come with instructions. A willing parent has to put the crib together. Yet one mistake can send the crib falling when the baby is inside. You should regard every step carefully, and never compromise because you are missing a tool or a bolt. The same goes when assembling a bassinet or a play pen. When it comes to pop up play pens, make sure that you only use the mattress that came with the product. Other mattresses may be too heavy for the supports.

The CPSC supplicates parents to throw away any cribs that are over 10 years old or have broken in the past. It isn’t worth putting your child at danger to save some money. As well, most all old cribs have a drop down side. This is now illegal, and companies are not even permitted to send in repair kits if they have sold drop-down cribs. You should get rid of any baby bed with this feature.

While the manufacturing of your crib has direct implications on your baby’s safety, you may also find that it is important to take your own precautions. Don’t place fabrics that lack breathability near a small infant in a crib. These include heavy quilts or thick pillows that could smother a child. Also, don’t place your crib near blinds, curtain cords, or baby monitor cords. Curious children may try to play with these cords and strangle themselves as a result. If your beloved child was injured because of a dangerous crib, then contact the CPSC immediately and call a personal injury lawyer to talk about seeking compensation.