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.
  
  More resources and tips at www.strollernstuff.com