Archive for August, 2008
In the beginning, babies spend up to 18 hours a day sleeping. They’re not doing much, but don’t be fooled. They can get themselves into lots of trouble just by hanging out in their crib. The Consumer Product Safety Commission cites 97 reports of crib-related deaths from 2002 to 2004 (the most recent statistics) due to entrapment between old or broken crib components, encounters with accessories around the crib, such as window cords or curtain tie backs, and suffocation when infants ended up face down in cribs containing pillows, quilts, and other bedding. It’s up to you to provide your baby with the safest and best sleeping environment possible. Here’s what you can do to rest assured that your baby is snoozing safely:
• To reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation, place your baby to sleep on its back (unless your pediatrician advises otherwise) at naptime and nighttime in a crib that meets all safety standards with a firm, tight-fitting mattress. You shouldn’t be able to fit more than two fingers between the sides of the crib and the mattress at any point.
• Place your baby’s crib well away from windows, window blinds, wall hangings, draperies, and other furniture so that an adventurous baby can’t get at anything dangerous.
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A number of distressed parents and grandparents have posted comments about last month’s recall of 320,000 Jardine cribs complaining about the lengthy and unwieldy process they’ve had to go through to get replacement cribs. They have our sympathy, but it may take more than that to get satisfaction—and a safe crib.
As we wrote in June, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 320,000 cribs made by Jardine Enterprises and sold for the past six years at retail and online outlets of Toys ‘R’ Us properties. The reason for the recall? The wooden slats and spindles can break, leading to entrapment and strangulation hazards. At the time of the recall, the CPSC had received 42 reports of crib slats and spindles breaking including four in which children became entrapped in the gap created by the broken piece. Two children were scraped or bruised.
The recall notice directed owners of the cribs to the Jardine Web site, which spells out details on getting a voucher for a replacement crib. Many parents who wrote us were surprised to see that they had to dismantle the crib and follow a multi-step process to get the voucher. Here’s what they’re directed to do after they request a recall kit:
- Remove mattress support hardware and identification label using the kit’s instructions and Allen key that is provided.
- Place the bolts, mattress support plates, identification label and signed acknowledgment form in the prepaid shipping envelope provided.
- Send the envelope to Jardine via UPS.
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Stanley Furniture Company is recalling 2nd Nature Built to Grow cribs sold nationwide from March 2006 to December 2007. The cribs could fail to meet a federal safety standard for crib dimensions. When the mattress support is in the middle setting, the space between the mattress and the crib could be too wide, posing an entrapment hazard.
This recall involves the full size 2nd Nature Built to Grow cribs, model number 353-14-220. Model and serial numbers are located on the headboard.
The crib is natural maple in color. Only the following serial numbers are included in the recall: 353-14-220-L-01, 353-14-220-L-02, 353-14-220-L-03, 353-14-220-L-04, 353-14-220-L-05, 353-14-220-L-06, 353-14-220-L-07, 353-14-220-L-08, 353-14-220-L-101, and 353-14-220-L-103. The recall does not include cribs sold after December 2007.
Consumers can contact Stanley Furniture at 888-839-6822 Monday through Friday to determine if the crib is subject to this recall, and if it is, to receive a free replacement crib headboard or visit www.youngamerica.com.
Mattresses might be about comfort above all, but on the salesfloor style is just as important as substance, which is why manufacturers leave no detail—from the border design to the ticking’s touch—to chance. While your sales staff should be prepared to talk about technical points, these mattresses are just as ready to speak for themselves:
Restonic’s promotionally priced, 70th anniversary ComfortCare™ innerspring line includes a cashmere Euro top plush mattress (shown) that features a RestoFoam™ and Quiltflex™ comfort quilt and a RestoFoam™ and Dunlop latex comfort layer.
Simmons’ Natural Elite mattresses feature Talalay latex made from biodegradable materials that are resistant to dust mites, mold and mildew; a layer of soy-enhanced base foam; and soy-enhanced foam edge support. Other features include Simmons’ smooth-top EvenLoft construction, a natural knit cover made from wood fibers and a Triton® foundation made from 100 percent sustainable wood and up to 80 percent recycled steel. Pikes Peak (shown) is one of the collection’s four mattress models.
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