Child's Safety in a Baby Crib or Bassinet

W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. – Earlier this month, ASTM International Committee F15 on Consumer Products approved a revised version of F1169, Specification for Full-Size Baby Crib. The standard is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee F15.18 on Cribs, Toddler Beds, Play Yards, Bassinets, Cradles and Changing Tables.

The most significant change to F1169 is the removal of provisions for drop sides in cribs from the standard. Subcommittee F15.18 investigated incidents provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, many of which involved hardware failure related to misassembly and subsequent reassembly of a crib. After extensive testing and exploration of different design approaches to eliminating these hazards, the ASTM subcommittee approved the recent revisions that now preclude cribs with a functional drop side and related hardware assemblies from complying with the ASTM standard.

Further, this revision to F1169 also contains new performance tests for crib assemblies to assure the structural integrity of crib slats.

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Crib Safety Tips -2

Remove the bottle. As your child gets older you may feel tempted to let him fall asleep with a bottle or sippy cup. Don't do this! Bottle nipples suffer from wear and tear over time and a small piece can break off and get caught in a baby's throat. Sleeping with a bottle or cup can also cause tooth decay and lead to ear infections.
Use the proper sheets. Use ones made to fit the mattress in your crib, bassinet or play yard. If a sheet isn't the correct fit, your baby may pull it up and become entangled.
Skip the crib gym. The safest crib is one that is free of gyms and other toys that stretch across the crib using strings, cords or ribbons.
Skip the bumpers, too. Crib bumpers are cute, but it's best not to use them. They need to be tied down with string, which is a potential hazard if not properly secured.
Don't use a sleep positioner. Those wedge-shaped pieces of foam are designed to help babies sleep on their back. But the American Academy of Pediatrics says that none of these devices have been tested sufficiently to show that they are effective or safe.
Always put your baby to sleep on his back, not his stomach, to minimize the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and re breathing, a sometimes fatal circumstance that can occur when a baby is sleeping on his stomach or trapped in soft bedding. As a result the child "rebreathes" his own carbon dioxide rather than breathing in oxygen-rich fresh air. The lack of oxygen can cause death.
Crib mobiles are for looking at, not for touching. They often have string or small attached pieces. Make sure your little one cannot reach the mobile so he can't become entangled or pull anything off. When he is able to push himself up on his hands and knees, the mobile should be removed from the crib.

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Bassinet and Crib Safety Tips -1

Never purchase an antique or used crib or bassinet. It may be missing hardware that prevents it from collapsing or failing in some other way. Some older cribs have cutouts in the headboard or footboard. Whether old or new, your crib shouldn't have any cutouts or openings that could entrap your child's head, neck, arms, or legs.
Check the condition of the crib's paint. If your crib is painted, make sure the paint isn't chipped or peeling. This is especially important with older cribs that may have been coated with paint that contains lead—another reason not to use old cribs.
Check the crib for splinters. If you use an older crib, be sure to check it over thoroughly for cracks, splinters and rough edges, which could harm your baby.
Check slat spacing. The slats in a crib or bassinet should be no farther apart than 2 3/8 inches. If you can fit a can of soda through them, the opening is too large.
Check mattress supports. Make sure that the system that supports the crib mattress isn't bent, broken or coming apart.
Make sure the mattress fits. Put your baby to sleep on her back on a firm mattress that fits tightly into the crib. There shouldn't be any cracks or openings between the crib and the mattress because a baby can get trapped in the smallest of spaces.
Use safe sleepwear. Infant sleepwear should fit snuggly and be made of flame-resistant fabric. There should be no drawstrings, ribbons or anything else that might catch on something. Buttons and snaps should be firmly attached to avoid becoming a choking hazard.

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Dorel Recalls this Year

Dorel has recalled a number of products this year. Recent recalls including 28,350 Maxi-Cosi Mico infant seats and more than 131,000 units of Safety 1st SmartLight stair gates, products often placed at the top of stairs.

The company also recalled this year 76,600 Eddie Bauer Soothe & Sway play yards with rocking bassinets after reports that several babies had their faces pressed against the bassinets' sides or bottoms and one child turned blue.

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INFANT CAR SEAT CARRIERS - NEW RECALL

A baby product manufacturer recalled on Friday about 447,000 of its infant car seat carriers, including some branded with Eddie Bauer and Disney logos, after dozens of reports of the carrier's handle coming loose.

There have been at least three injuries to babies, including bumps, bruises and a head injury. Dorel Juvenile Group Inc., of Columbus, Ind., received 77 reports of the child restraint handle fully or partially coming off the products.

In announcing the recall, the government said consumers should immediately stop using the seat's carrying handle. The bolts that attach the handle to the seat can loosen, causing the handle to possibly separate and creating a fall hazard for babies.

The recall involves Safety 1st, Cosco, Eddie Bauer and Disney branded infant car seat carriers with certain model numbers. They were sold at department and children's product stores nationwide from January 2008 through this month.

The recall was announced on Friday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Dorel Juvenile Group.

The traffic safety agency said consumers should not use the handle until a repair kit has been installed. The repair kit includes new screws that consumers can attach to the seat carriers. They can order these free repair kits by contacting Dorel at 866-762-3316 or visiting http://www.djgusa.com/safety_notice.

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Rent Baby Stroller, Bassinet, and more...while Traveling

Travel BaBees, a full-service baby equipment rental company, delivers the comforts of home straight to your destination. Our primary goal is to overcome the challenges parents face by providing an unparalleled service for babies and young children while traveling.

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Packnplay style Baby Bassinets

Manufacturers make packnplay bassinets and playards safer and enhance them with more features. These new models by Graco, Kolcraft, Safety 1st, and Eddie Bauer are great products called 5 in 1. They are design to comfort your baby and give parents many features of convenience.
Some of the features include:
- pivoting, right height changing table makes diapering more comfortable and convenient
- enhanced electronics with: two-speed vibration in mattress
-five classical songs + five soothing nature sounds
-night light to illuminate controls
-auto-shut off timer
- cozy bassinet cushions baby comfortably inside
- baby basics organizer which includes diaper stacker, refillable wipes container, and storage compartments
- innovative squeeze latch is a graceful detail that makes folding even easier
- canopy on bassinet shields baby from light
- wheels make it easy to move from room to room
- carry bag simplifies travel and storage
- some models are design for twins to take naps together or interact with each other.
According to Consumer Reports, Playards made by Graco and Kolcraft are one of the best rated for safety, portability, and easy to use features.
In general these new packnplays are very practical and convenient for parents and great entertaining spots for babies. They stimulate and develop many areas of child’s personality.

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What Parents should do after Baby Bed Recall

When the recall announcements are made for cribs it consistently recommends that owners stop using them"immediately" and contact the manufacturer, which often supplies repair kits. But many parents complain that those fix-it kits sometimes take too long to arrive.

So where should your baby sleep while the repair kit is slowly making its way to your mailbox? Here are some suggestions and tips for creating a safe sleeping environment for your baby:

• your crib has been recalled, contact the manufacturer as soon as possible by calling the phone number or visiting the Web site listed on the recall notice. The sooner you get your name on the list, the sooner you’ll receive the repair kit.
• If you can’t get quick action from the manufacturer, consider going back to the retailer that sold you the crib. If you have your original receipt, all the better.
• If your recalled crib is in perfect working order, we think you could continue to use it until your repair kit arrives. But first make sure that all the hardware is intact and tight, and stop using the drop side.
• If you have a play yard, put your baby to sleep in that. But be careful—there have also been a slew of play-yard recalls.
• Don’t be tempted to repair a broken crib with your own hardware; do-it-yourself fixes may be just as unsafe as the recalled crib.
• Don’t share your adult bed with a sleeping infant. Infants are up to 40 times more likely to suffocate in an adult bed than in a crib.
• With any crib, it’s important to make sure that there is no missing or loose hardware and to check it regularly. A bare crib is a safe crib, so skip the comforters, pillows, bumper pads and stuffed animals since they can pose suffocation hazards.
  
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New Recall in the Baby Industry!

Two infant deaths have led to the recall of about 24,000 Amby Baby Motion Beds - hammock-like beds marketed to parents of fussy babies with colic or reflux.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Tuesday, Dec 8, 2009, that the side-to-side shifting or tilting of the hammock can cause an infant to roll and become trapped or wedged against the hammock’s fabric or mattress pad, posing a suffocation risk to babies.

Two infants suffocated this summer – a 4-month-old in Georgia and a 5-month-old in Oregon

The beds, made by Amby Baby USA of Minneapolis, look somewhat like a baby swing, but have mesh and fabric sides, resembling a hammock. The bed, or hammock, hangs from a spring and every time the baby moves or stirs in his sleep, the bed gently moves up and down, back and forth, or side to side. The idea is to mimic the motion of a baby in the womb.

The bed is recommended by the company for babies ranging from newborn to 9 months old. Amby did not immediately respond to calls and e-mails from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Safety advocates say babies are safest in cribs or bassinets with a firm bottom support and no soft bedding, gaps, or other possible points where they could become trapped or entangled.

CPSC says there is only one model of the Amby hammock available. It has a label sewn onto it that says, “Amby – Babies Love It, Naturally.” The beds were sold online, through Ambybaby.com and other Internet retailers dating back to 2003. They cost about $250.

Consumers are urged to immediately stop using the motion beds and find a safe place for baby to sleep.

On its Web site, Amby says it plans to offer a free repair kit as soon as possible, “but not earlier than January 2010.”

Consumers with questions can call 866-544-9721.

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Hotel Cribs and Play Yards - Traveling Tips for Families with Babies

Now, in holiday season, traveling with babies doesn't have to give you a headache.
Just remember about safety of you children and bring what they need the most. I think about a traveling bed, a place for your baby to sleep. If you are planning to visit relatives or stay at the hotel, remember about the safe bed, which can be a portable play yard, packnplay. These models are easy to use, convenient, portable, and comfortable for kids.
When you're traveling with an infant, a hotel crib or play yard can be a safe haven for your baby. But if you don't know how old the crib or play yard is, it could be outdated and not up to today's safety standards.

To play it safe, you may want to take your play yard from home when you're traveling. When your baby sleeps in a play yard at night, place the play yard next to your bed, within arm's reach. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your baby sleep in the same room with you (but not the same bed) until he is at least 6 months old, whether you're at home or on the road.

Because the bassinet feature in play yards can only be used for sleeping for babies up to 15 pounds, you'll need to go to plan B after that. One option: Put your baby to sleep on the floor of your play yard. It's close to the ground and uses the same mattress/floor pad as the bassinet.

If you can't or don't want to travel with a play yard, use the hotel's crib or play yard, but be sure to do your own assessment. For hotel cribs, check to make sure that the mattress is firm and tight-fitting. You shouldn't be able to fit two fingers between the edge of the mattress and the crib side. You shouldn't be able to fit a soda can between the slats. There also shouldn't be any missing parts, which can make the crib unstable or create dangerous gaps. There should be no protruding parts, screws, or bolts, or corner posts more than 1/16 inch or less than 16 inches high (anything in between can catch clothing, posing a strangulation hazard) or cutouts in the head or foot board, which can trap an infant's head or limbs. (Do the same tests at home and at Grandma's house.) Ask for another crib if the one you're offered doesn't pass muster.

If all a hotel has to offer is a play yard, check it out. (These criteria also apply to your baby's play yard at home.) It should have mesh panels, which allow airflow, but a weave that's small (less than ¼-inch openings.) Ask for another if the mesh is larger or has any tears, holes, or loose threads, or if the mesh is not secured all around to the top rails and the floor, or the top rail cover has tears or holes. The sides should lock securely (press on them to be sure), and the play yard should include a snug, tight-fitting mattress/floor pad. Use only the mattress or pad provided by the manufacturer. Don't add a second mattress, pillow, comforter, or other soft bedding to either a hotel crib or play yard. Consider bringing a crib or play yard sheet from home in case you need it.

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Best beds for Newborns- Bassinet, Co-sleeper, Cradle

Baby bassinets, co-sleepers, cradles, and Moses baskets are the most popular baby crib alternatives. You can use them safely for the first 5 or 6 months depending on your baby size and motor skills developed during that period. Important thing is to follow closely manufacturer directions and recommendations. Baby crib alternatives make a great spot for your baby for many hours each day, because infant’s main activity will be sleeping and exploring while lying down. It is also very convenient for parents or caregiver, because the light weight and sometimes wheels attached to it.
Baby bassinet, cradle, or co-sleeper are great accessories to build up the proper emotional bonding between the newborn and new parents, they give the opportunity to keep your infant close by. Another very important benefit, which helps newborns feel safer and secure in the smaller, cozy bassinet then in the big and airy crib.
While shopping for crib or bassinet always look for certified models. Certification is indicated by a seal from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association- JPMA.
It is also a good idea to complete and mail in product registration cards so a company can contact you directly in the event of a recall. The most common defects in cribs or bassinets are:
- drop-side failures resulting from both hardware and crib design,
- slats and spindles could break too easily,
- the flaws create entrapment and suffocation hazards,
- faulty hardware, railings that are to low, posing a fall hazard
- mattress supports that leave a gap between the crib and the railing.
Staying up-to-date on recalls can help you to recognize unsafe products that can still be in circulation in stores and resale shops. Second hand, used cribs are not recommended!

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