Drop-side Cribs

Transcript - Drop-side Cribs

Soft music
Expert with examples of cribs and common hazards.

What you should know about drop-side cribs

Tyler Goodier - Engineering Consultant - Consumer Safety - Some of the common hazards that have been reported regarding drop-side cribs are when there is a broken or missing piece of hardware. This allows the drop-side to move out of place and a gap opens up into which a child can get stuck and be in danger of suffocation.

Example of crib with drop-side installed upside down.

This crib is a safety hazard because the drop-side has been installed upside down, which increases the chance that these plastic brackets will break, and could open up a hazardous gap where the baby could get trapped in.

Mother putting her baby in crib.
Mother securely locking drop-side crib.
Baby cooing noises.

When a child is placed in the crib or left un-attended raise the drop-side into its highest position until it's locked in place. When the child is able to roll over, the mattress support should be lowered to its lowest position to prevent them from falling out.

Expert holding manufacturer's instructions for crib.

To make sure you're following the manufacturers' safety instructions, regularly check your crib to make sure you have no loose or broken parts and that all other moveable parts of the crib are functioning normally, and that the drop-side will stay in its highest position when you raise it.

Health Canada's Consumer Product Recall database.
Baby yawning in crib.
Baby lullaby music.

Consumers should consult Health Canada's Consumer Product Recall database to see if their product has been recalled. Look for your specific manufacturer and if you encounter any problems with assembly or performance of your crib, you should always contact the manufacturer for instructions on what recourse to take and how to get replacement parts or fix the problem.