The deadline for child care centers, hotels, motels and places of public accommodation to comply with the new crib standards is coming up.
As a refresher: Beginning June 28, 2011, there are new new federal safety standards for cribs. All cribs made and sold after that date must meet these new standards, which prohibit traditional drop-side cribs, strengthen crib slats and mattress supports, improve the quality of hardware, and require more rigorous testing from entering the marketplace.
Cribs provided by child care facilities, family child care homes, hotels, motels and other places of public accommodation have until Dec. 28, 2012, to meet the requirements of the new standards.
Here are some materials that we have created to help you understand the new standards and what you need to do:
- Questions and Answers about the New Crib Standard
- Enforcement Guidance for Child Care Providers
- Child Care Provider Guide to the New Crib Standards
- Child Care Facilities, Foster Care, Churches: Who is Covered by the Crib Rules
In addition, we continue to receive questions about the new standard. Many of your questions revolve around evacuation cribs and play yards.
Evacuation Cribs
Cribs in child care facilities, family child care homes and places of public accommodation must meet the requirements of the new federal safety standards for full-size or non-full-size cribs. The regulations do not offer any exemptions or exceptions for evacuation cribs, regardless of how they are used.
Play Yards
The new crib standards do not apply to play yards. CPSC recently strengthened the safety standards for play yards. This new standard will take effect in February 2013. From CPSC’s regulatory perspective, a play yard can be used in lieu of a crib. HOWEVER, some state regulations prohibit the use of play yards in lieu of cribs in a child care setting. If you choose to replace the cribs in your child care with play yards, please familiarize yourself with your state regulations.
