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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns consumers not to leave the drop side
of mesh-sided playpens down while children are in them. Playpens used with sides down can present a suffocation hazard to infants. When the drop side is down, the mesh net material forms a loose pocket leaving a gap between the edge of the playpen floor and the mesh side. Infants can easily fall or roll into this pocket. Once an infant's head is entrapped in this pocket, the infant can suffocate. In past years, CPSC has received reports of infants who suffocated between the floor or mattress and mesh side of the playpen. The CPSC and members of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) developed a warning label that appears on the saddle cover of the top rail around mesh-sided playpens which reads: |
WARNING! NEVER LEAVE an infant in playpen with SIDES DOWN. Infant may roll into space between mattress and loose mesh side, causing suffocation. This warning label has been placed on mesh-sided playpens with drop sides produced since 1985. A similar warning has appeared on mesh-sided portable cribs with drop sides produced since 1980. The drop sides of mesh-sided playpens and portable cribs should always be up and locked securely in position whenever a child is in the playpen or crib. |