By December 28, 2012, any businesses providing professional child care must replace all cribs that do not comply with the new federal safety standards. In response to numerous injuries and even deaths of infants and toddlers due to crib failures, all cribs available for sale, resale, or lease after June 28, 2011 are required to meet new safety requirements issued by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). According to a press release issued by the Office of Information and Public Affairs, the new standards: 16 CFR 1219 for full sized cribs and 16 CFR 1220 for non-full sized cribs, will improve the safety of cribs by “mak[ing] mattress supports stronger; mak[ing] crib hardware more durable; and mak[ing] safety testing more rigorous” as well as prohibiting the sale of non-compliant drop-side cribs.

Retailers of commercial daycare and nursery cribs for sale are required to have available, and provide upon customer request, a certificate of compliance proving that the cribs they offer for sale meet the new federal safety standard. This supporting crib manufacturer documentation is important for both the retailer and the daycare crib customer, as it is not always possible to tell by first glance whether or not a crib’s construction complies with the new CPSC requirements. One rough guideline to go by is: if the crib was sold prior to June 28, 2011, there is a good chance it does not meet the new safety requirements. The Juvenile Product Manufacturer’s Association (JPMA) is a coalition of product manufacturers devoted to promoting safety. The JPMA website provides a reference list of qualified manufacturers who are complying with the new crib safety requirements.

One of the most trusted manufacturers of commercial daycare and nursery cribs available for sale that are in full compliance with the most current 16 CFR 1219 and 16 CFR 1220 standards outlined by the CPSC isFoundations, a major producer of children’s furnishings. From traditional hardwood cribs like the Serenity Fixed-side Compact Cribs to the Pinnacle Compact Steel-frame Crib, their daycare furniture is safe, durable, and attractive. For added peace of mind, Foundations’ sells Crib Evacuation Kits to provide enhanced mobility for your childcare center’s cribs in the case of an emergency or other need for evacuation or quick crib relocation.

If your daycare facility is concerned about whether or not your current cribs meet the new standards of safety, there are steps you can take to review and ensure compliance. The CPSC offers a video you can view here that outlines methods to check the safety of your cribs. The CPSC recommends that crib owners and childcare providers check their cribs frequently and thoroughly, even if they are newer cribs compliant with child safety standards. If you have questions regarding your facility’s specific crib models, we suggest speaking directly with the manufacturer of your cribs to determine whether immobilizers may be available for your facility’s drop-side cribs.

The staff at Classroom Essentials Online welcomes the opportunity to answer your questions. We care very much about the safety of our products, and we’re here to help your professional child care facility make sure that you’re in compliance with the new CPSC crib regulations, with the lowest prices possible on CPSC-compliant cribs from JPMA-registered manufacturers like Foundations. Please call us at (866) 404-7671 toll-free, Mon-Fri from 8:30AM to 5:00PM EST, or e-mail us any time.