STANDARDS

Strict New Crib Safety Rules

Few current cribs meet the requirements.

Tough new crib-safety rules will go into effect Tuesday, meaning most cribs in U.S. homes will no longer fit the requirements and it will be illegal to sell or even donate one that doesn’t meet the regulations. The new rules address all major hazards that have killed infants in recent years, including traditional sides that move up and down. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said it will be monitoring sites like eBay and Craigslist to make sure older cribs are not sold. Under the new regulations, the cribs must pass a variety of tests—including being pushed repeatedly in eight different directions for a total of 72,000 movements, or one test where a 45-pound weight is dropped on the mattress 750 times. Manufacturers are required to provide certification that the cribs meet the new standards, although retailers are not required to provide this certification to customers.