Drop-side cribs...

StratusRose · #1 Nov 25, '09, 4:00 am

I assume that you all have heard about the recall and possible ban on dropside cribs...here's the story. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34116399

Do you own a drop-side crib? Do you plan on getting rid of it and buying a crib with stationary sides? I just read this morning that the CPSC is recommending that parents buy brand new cribs and not buy them second hand.

We have a stationary side mini crib. When I bought it, I regretted that it did not have the drop-side but now I am thankful it doesn't. Honestly, I don't think I ever would have used the mechanism anyway. I never really missed putting Zack in and taking him out w/o a drop side.

Please, let's not start a debate on co-sleeping...

yellowdaisy · #2 Nov 25, '09, 4:07 am

We had a drop side crib when Moobaby was smaller-- but I honestly NEVER used the drop side mechanism once! When she was about a year, SHE learned how to use the drop side mechanism from INSIDE the crib, and then the thing became REALLY dangerous!

We switched her to a twin bed mattress and box spring (on the floor, no bedframe) somewhere around 18 months-2 years. I've never had a peep of trouble and it was SO much safer! We put it in the corner, so two sides were up to the wall, and got a safety bar for the third side. Only the foot of hte bed could so go in and out of. Worked pretty well!

Someone told me that after 2010, drop side cribs will no longer be legally manufactured in the US-- so if you're getting a new crib, I'd just get the staitionary sides and safe yourself hte hassel if you have future children!

vluvski · #3 Nov 25, '09, 4:46 am

Ours is a drop side, but we still have the mattress pretty high and haven't used the mechanism.

I probably won't trade it in for anything else. In fact, I think it will be handy to leave in the low position when DD is big enough to climb in an out on her own with a set of steps that double as toy storage.

BlessedbyGodx2 · #4 Nov 25, '09, 5:10 am

Ours is a drop side. I don't plan on getting rid of it and buying a new one. Hubby checks the hardware often and we just purchased new hardware for it before baby number 2 was born. I don't actually use the side that much because its loud and would wake a sleeping baby but it is handy to have. If we have to buy a crib for some reason I will probably by one with stationary sides.

mpernot · #5 Nov 25, '09, 5:48 am

We have two of the Storkcraft drop-side cribs, one of which is currently in use for our 10 month old son. I inspected the slides whose failure was the cause of the recall and found that they were fine, so I fixed the four corners of the sliding front rail to the stationary sides with tie wraps. We'll use it like this until the recall kits become available, as the front rail isn't going anywhere and it is safer than any other alternative we have. I guess if the slides end up breaking I'll make some sheet metal brackets and drill into the wood (which is probably what the recall kit is anyway), but I went overboard with the tie wraps as it is so I'm not expecting any issues.

For all three of our children, there was a very narrow range of age where we would regularly slide the front down. We kept the mattress at the highest position when they were newborns, and then we would lower it to the bottom position when we got the slightest suspicion they were capable of sitting up or climbing (the crib is pretty shallow at its highest mattress position). This was well before they showed signs, maybe around 4-6 months or so. At this age range they could not move themselves and they were getting heavier. It required a lot of energy to get them out of the crib because it is quite deep at its lowest level, so it was nice to be able to drop the front so we didn't have to lean over/into the crib so far. It was especially helpful for my wife when she was nursing and low on energy, but I don't think we'll miss it too much.

nova147 · #6 Nov 25, '09, 6:19 am

I really like my drop side crib. I saw an article about this and was confused as to why drop side cribs in general are considered dangerous (obviously the recalled ones have a problem). Does anyone know how kids are getting hurt? Is it only when something breaks? Or when the child operates it themselves? Or just in a normal usage situation?

Grace is in a toddler bed now, so we've got a couple months to make a decision before the new baby will be using the crib. I guess I'll need to do my research.

happymommy · #7 Nov 25, '09, 6:36 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by nova147

I really like my drop side crib. I saw an article about this and was confused as to why drop side cribs in general are considered dangerous (obviously the recalled ones have a problem). Does anyone know how kids are getting hurt? Is it only when something breaks? Or when the child operates it themselves? Or just in a normal usage situation?

Grace is in a toddler bed now, so we've got a couple months to make a decision before the new baby will be using the crib. I guess I'll need to do my research.

The way it looked to me in the video I saw on the news was that the bottom of the slide down side was coming loose and the children were sliding down between the mattress and the side of the crib, hanging themselves. How awful

We've just put our crib up in the past few weeks, so I know it's tight. But we will be keeping a close eye on it and won't be using the drop side this time.

Lil_M · #8 Nov 25, '09, 6:49 am

Ours was free but I would have bought a drop-side anyway...ours is down permanently (well until DD is bigger) b/c I can barely get her in it with the side down, I'm so short. I don't know how I'd do it otherwise. I'd have to let her free- fall the last six inches.

StratusRose · #9 Nov 25, '09, 6:51 am

As I understand it, some of the crib sides were installed upside down which is causing a lot of the problems. I don't think that's the only reason though.

mpernot · #10 Nov 25, '09, 7:12 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by StratusRose

As I understand it, some of the crib sides were installed upside down which is causing a lot of the problems. I don't think that's the only reason though.

There was a recall of about 550,000 Storkcraft cribs earlier this year because some people installed the board that the matress rests on upside down. This apparently caused the metal brackets that mount the matress board to the sides to fail, as the recall kit included stronger brackets. This didn't have anything to do with the slides that move the front rail up and down, which were the reason for the 2.1 million-crib recall announced yesterday.

Mary Gail 36 · #11 Nov 25, '09, 7:23 am

I have one....I've used it constnatly for the past 8 years, except for a year or so.

I'm a little worried, because this time DH had a hard time reassembling it, and I heard that is what causes the problems. I don't even know what type it is, but I called the store and they said they never carried the recalled ones.

But I'm waiting to here the recall on mine. I'm sort of getting tired of recalls.

vluvski · #12 Nov 25, '09, 7:42 am

If you're worried and not covered by the recall, get a square bracket/brace and a few screws to secure the side(s) at the bottom, and even at the top if you want.
Like this:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...LLG&lpage=none

My personal, unprofessional assessment is that the plastic pieces are inadequate in households where furniture sees a lot of use or abuse, and it would be overkill to ban all drop side cribs regardless of the slide mechanism.

That's why I'm not worried about our crib. I put it together myself, I know it is assembled properly, and I know its going to be fine at our minimal crib use.

sanctareparata · #13 Nov 25, '09, 8:16 am

For anyone concerned they may not be able to reach into a stationary side crib, I read that the stationary ones are made lower anyway. I know our mini crib (the same one Stratus has) is very low, and I've never had any problems with it.

Sina · #14 Nov 25, '09, 11:53 am

I own a dropside and we still use it. It's Bambino brand or something like that. I am confused as to whether it's just the Storknet (orwhatever brand it was) that is being recalled, or if they mean for everyone to get rid of all dropside cribs...

Bluegoat · #15 Nov 25, '09, 12:36 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sina

I own a dropside and we still use it. It's Bambino brand or something like that. I am confused as to whether it's just the Storknet (orwhatever brand it was) that is being recalled, or if they mean for everyone to get rid of all dropside cribs...

Those are the ones that have been recalled. But there are general questions about whether drop-side cribs are really safe. Having a drop-side is very difficult to do without really weakening the structure of the crib.