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MOUNT LAUREL, N.J.—The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), the not-for-profit trade association that promotes infant safety and the development of recognized ASTM International product safety standards, reminds the public on the proper use and safety of cribs, and is dedicating Baby Safety Month in September 2010 to the promotion of safe sleep practices.
“JPMA has always been committed to providing safe sleep guidelines and recommendations for parents and caregivers,” said Michael Dwyer, executive director of JPMA. “Each year September marks JPMA’s Baby Safety Month, and in 2010 we are dedicating Baby Safety Month to reinforce safe sleep practices for parents and caregivers.”
Parents and caregivers are reminded that when you assemble a crib to the manufacturer’s instructions and use it properly, a crib provides the safest sleeping environment for baby. The safest place for a child is in a fully functional, properly assembled crib. Parents are urged to closely inspect the hardware and stability of their cribs regularly to ensure all parts are in place and secure when assembling and re-assembling cribs.
Each year hundreds of deaths occur when children are placed in a sleep environment that is not specifically designed for children. If you are a crib owner and have any questions regarding a specific model, please contact the manufacturer directly for replacement hardware and instructions.
• Always check all sides and corners of the crib to assure proper assembly with no openings that may entrap a child. The crib mattress should fit snugly with no more than two fingers’ width, one-inch, between the edge of the mattress and the crib side. Otherwise, the baby can get trapped between the mattress and the side of the crib.
• Do not try to repair any side of the crib without manufacturer-approved hardware.
• Putting a broken side up against the wall does not solve the problem and can often make it worse.
• Many older cribs do not meet all current safety standards. Even if you are on a tight budget, you should not purchase an old crib at a garage sale or accept a hand-me-down crib that may not meet Federal and ASTM standards.
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association is a national trade organization of more than 250 companies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. JPMA exists to advance the interests, growth, and well-being of North American prenatal to preschool product manufacturers, importers, and distributors marketing under their own brands to consumers. JPMA initiated Baby Safety Month to educate parents and caregivers on the importance of the safe use and selection of juvenile products.
For additional tips on how to keep baby safe, including a list of JPMA Certified cribs, please visit www.jpma.org.
“JPMA has always been committed to providing safe sleep guidelines and recommendations for parents and caregivers,” said Michael Dwyer, executive director of JPMA. “Each year September marks JPMA’s Baby Safety Month, and in 2010 we are dedicating Baby Safety Month to reinforce safe sleep practices for parents and caregivers.”
Parents and caregivers are reminded that when you assemble a crib to the manufacturer’s instructions and use it properly, a crib provides the safest sleeping environment for baby. The safest place for a child is in a fully functional, properly assembled crib. Parents are urged to closely inspect the hardware and stability of their cribs regularly to ensure all parts are in place and secure when assembling and re-assembling cribs.
Each year hundreds of deaths occur when children are placed in a sleep environment that is not specifically designed for children. If you are a crib owner and have any questions regarding a specific model, please contact the manufacturer directly for replacement hardware and instructions.
Additional Safety Tips
• Always check all sides and corners of the crib to assure proper assembly with no openings that may entrap a child. The crib mattress should fit snugly with no more than two fingers’ width, one-inch, between the edge of the mattress and the crib side. Otherwise, the baby can get trapped between the mattress and the side of the crib.
• Do not try to repair any side of the crib without manufacturer-approved hardware.
• Putting a broken side up against the wall does not solve the problem and can often make it worse.
• Many older cribs do not meet all current safety standards. Even if you are on a tight budget, you should not purchase an old crib at a garage sale or accept a hand-me-down crib that may not meet Federal and ASTM standards.
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association is a national trade organization of more than 250 companies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. JPMA exists to advance the interests, growth, and well-being of North American prenatal to preschool product manufacturers, importers, and distributors marketing under their own brands to consumers. JPMA initiated Baby Safety Month to educate parents and caregivers on the importance of the safe use and selection of juvenile products.
For additional tips on how to keep baby safe, including a list of JPMA Certified cribs, please visit www.jpma.org.
