Appendix D Consumer Products Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov)

Your Used Crib Could Be DEADLY

CPSC Document # 5020

An unsafe used crib could be very dangerous for a baby. Each year, about 50 babies suffocate or strangle when they become trapped between broken crib parts or in cribs with older, unsafe designs.

A safe crib is the best place to put a baby to sleep. Look for a crib with a certification seal showing that it meets national safety standards.

If a crib does not meet these guidelines, it may not be used by children enrolled in your child care center. To protect all children, destroy it and replace it with a safe crib.

A safe crib has:

•   No missing, loose, broken, or improperly-installed screws, brackets, or other hardware on the crib or the mattress support.

•   No more than 2 3/8 inches between crib slats so a baby's body cannot fit through the slats.

•   A firm, snug-fitting mattress so a baby cannot get trapped between the mattress and the side of the crib.

•   No corner posts over 1/16 of an inch above the end panels (unless they are over 16 inches high for a canopy) so a baby cannot catch clothing and strangle.

•   No cutout areas on the headboard or foot board so a baby's head cannot get trapped.

•   A mattress support that does not easily pull apart from the corner posts so a baby cannot get trapped between mattress and crib.

•   No cracked or peeling paint to prevent lead poisoning.

•   No splinters or rough edges.

- See PDF for diagram