Government Bans Killer Cribs

If you grew up in the US, chances are you spent some time in a drop-side crib, which allows adults to lower one side so they have easy access to the occupant. T the government is about to ban the popular crib design, which has been linked to 32 infant deaths since 2000, the Washington Post reports. Whether because of poor design or incorrect assembly, the "drop" side can fall on the infant, causing strangulation.

Consumer advocates say manufacturers' shift to cheaper materials has exacerbated the problem. Crib manufacturers argue the cribs are safe when assembled correctly, but regulators counter that the heavy secondhand usage the expensive cribs are put through raises the safety risk to unacceptable levels. Rather than attempt to save drop-side cribs, manufacturers are likely to modify designs: Cribs will be made with either shorter legs or an out-swinging gate to give the caregiver easy access to the child.
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