As was widely anticipated, the Consumer Product Safety Commission today voted to ban the sale of drop-side cribs.
According to the Associated Press, the government took the move “after the deaths of more than 30 infants and toddlers in the past decade and millions of recalls.”
This means that beginning in June, all cribs sold in the USA must have static or non-moving side rails. However, manufacturers and retailers have already been phasing out these cribs . . . most major chain stores now only sell static-side cribs.
The law would also ban childcare centers and hotels from using drop-side cribs—however, there is a two-year grace period.
There are millions of drop-side cribs in homes, attics and second-hand stores. Should you junk your drop-side crib and get a new one? Yes, we believe that would be the safest course. Even if you check the hardware, it is still possible for the hardware to fail or for the crib to be mis-assembled.
We obsess over gear for families . . . so you don't have to. Baby Bargains has one mission: help you find the best gear for your family and home with unbiased reviews by experts with 20 years of experience. At prices that don't break the bank. When you purchase a product from links on this site, we make a small affiliate commission. Learn more 
I decided when I was shopping for a crib that I wouldn’t have a drop side. but that can be a challenge for a 5 foot mom. Most of the static side cribs are simply too tall and impossible to use when the crib mattress is on a lower setting. That left few choices for me. I finally decided on a Million Dollar Baby design from walmart.com. Their more modern designs had lower sides overall. My DD is now 23 months old and the mattress is on the lowest setting. As long as she doesn’t get too heavy, I can still manage to lay her down in it without dropping her. But I was lucky to not have a crib climber. Hopefully the manufacturers will take mom’s height and arm length into account and start building cribs lower overall.
About to have our second child, we are now forced to go out and buy a 2nd crib. We purchased the crib we did with the intention of it lasting through more than one child. The manufacturers win in this. Babies have been killed and consumers have been fleeced. The federal law should include parents trading in their death-trap-cribs for new ones for their new babies.
Will you be giving us updates on your crib section of the books. You recommend drop side cribs. I just purchased the book and cribs was one item I was completely lost. I feel like the section in your book on cribs is wash now though. I would like an update.
Re: [Baby Bargains Book Blog] Meghan submitted a comment to Government bans drop-side cribs
Meghan,
Thanks for your post. Yes, we are updating our book for a new edition coming out in April and well be revising information in Shopping Tips section of the book where drop sides are mentioned. The good news: our recommendations in the 8th edition of Baby Bargains remain the same. For example, the Graco Lauren or Graco Sarah which are recommended as Good options (see page 93) are available now as static side cribs. And the same brands that we recommend in our book no longer sell drop side cribs but you the rating of their static side cribs will still be the same as their drop sides.
Hope that helps,
Alan and Denise Fields