Crib Standards Information Memorandum

To: State, Territorial, and Tribal Lead Agencies administering child care programs under the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Act of 1990, as amended; State child care licensing agencies; child care resource and referral agencies; and other interested parties.

Background: Section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 requires the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue consumer product safety standards for durable infant or toddler products. Since 2007, CPSC has recalled more than 11 million dangerous cribs. Drop-side cribs with detaching side rails were associated with at least 32 infant suffocation and strangulation deaths since 2000. Additional deaths occurred due to faulty or defective crib hardware.

New Rule Effective Dates:

In December 2010, CPSC published new safety standards for full-size and non-full-size cribs. These new federal standards, which aim to prevent fatalities and to keep children safe in their cribs, took effect for manufacturers, retailers, importers, and distributors on June 28, 2011. Manufactured products must meet the following 6 new Federal Requirements: 

• Traditional drop-side cribs cannot be made or sold;
• Immobilizers and repair kits are not allowed;
• Wood slats must be made of stronger woods to prevent breakage;
• Crib hardware must have anti-loosening devices to keep it from coming loose or falling off;
• Mattress supports must be more durable; and
• Safety testing must become more rigorous.

Beginning December 28, 2012 any crib used by child care facilities, including family child care homes, must meet the new Federal requirements. 

Proof of Compliance:

Compliance with these new standards cannot be determined by looking at the product.  To verify whether or not any new or existing crib meets the new Federal standards, the CPSC strongly recommends that providers or other entities ask the manufacturer, retailer, or distributor to provide a copy of the Certificate of Compliance.  The document must:

• Describe the product;
• Give the name, full mailing address, and telephone number of the importer or domestic manufacturer;
• Identify compliance with CFR 1219 (new standard for full-size cribs) or 16 CFR 1220 (new standard for non-full-size cribs);
• Give the name, full mailing address, email address, and telephone number for the records keeper and location of the testing lab; and
• Give the date and location of manufacture and testing.

Manufacturers are required to test samples of their cribs to the new standards and to certify that they meet compliance. They must provide this certification to the retailer.

Discarding Non-Compliant Cribs:

Child Care providers cannot resell, donate, or give away a crib that does not meet the new crib standards. Older non-compliant cribs must be disposed of in a manner that prevents these cribs from being reassembled and used.

Further information on crib safety and the most up-to-date information on how to create a safe sleep environment can be found at the CPSC website: https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/cribs. A flyer describing the key features of this rule can be found at: https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/5023.pdf  (PDF).

Compliance with New Federal Standards:

We expect all providers receiving CCDF funds and who care for infants and toddlers will meet the CPSC crib requirements. We encourage CCDF administrators to reach out to providers to assist them in meeting the new requirements. CCDF Administrators can also enlist help from licensing agencies, child care resource and referral agencies and other public or private partners who can play a key role in raising awareness of the new requirements and assisting providers in meeting them.  Lead Agencies may also use CCDF Quality Funding or CCDF Infant and Toddler Targeted Funds to assist providers in meeting the CPSC crib requirements.

Thank you for taking part in an important effort to keep infants and toddlers safe.

Questions: Direct all inquiries to the Child Care Program Manager in the appropriate ACF Regional Office at: /programs/occ/resource/regional-child-care-pro...

/s/
  _________________________
Shannon L. Rudisill
Director
Office of Child Care
Administration for Children and Families