Crib Tent Canopy Safety
Crib tent canopies, also called crib safety nets, are mesh nets that fit over the tops of cribs. Some only cover the top, while others box in the entire crib including the slats. They are designed to keep a baby safely inside and keep unwanted visitors like bugs and pets out of the crib. Unlike cribs however, crib tent canopies are not regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
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Availability
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As of 2010, there was only one U.S. manufacturer of crib tent canopies: the Salem, New Hampshire-based Tots in Mind, Inc., makers of the Cozy Crib Tent and Cozy Crib Tent II. Their products feature fiberglass frames and mesh sides. Crib tents are also available from the Australian company Internet Marketing Experts, makers of the Baby Crib Safety Net. The Baby Crib Safety Net has no frames, only netting that hangs from the ceiling above the crib. Crib tents can be purchased from most major retailers and online baby product sites.
Protection
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Crib tent canopies are designed to offer two types of protection: keeping a baby safely inside a crib and keeping harmful things outside the crib. Crib tent canopies are meant to stop a baby from climbing out of his crib, sustaining fall injuries or getting limbs stuck in crib slats. They also keep pets, older children and bugs out of cribs. In many places around the world, including the U.S. Atlantic Coast states, where virus-carrying mosquitoes and poisonous spiders are common, crib tents help keep babies safe from potentially dangerous bites.
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Industry Regulation
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While the CPSC has strict federal safety regulations for cribs down to the 1/16 of an inch, there are no federal regulations for the manufacturing or importing of crib tent canopies. U.S. manufacturer Tots in Mind, Inc., is a member of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). The JPMA has a voluntary safety certification program, but Tots in Mind's crib tents are not JPMA certified.
Injuries
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According to Safety Research & Strategies Inc., in December 2008, the CPSC began an investigation into the death of a two-year-old boy who was strangled by the mesh netting of his crib tent. While the exact numbers of deaths and injuries from crib tents have not been released by the CPSC, baby products that use mesh have been steadily recalled for safety concerns since 1983.
Warnings
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Parents are encouraged to check routinely the strength and integrity of the mesh on crib tent canopies. If there is a tear, or the mesh is able to be torn by a toddler, the resulting hole can lead to strangulation or other child injuries. Do not use a crib tent that has any holes, torn seams or broken pieces. Tots in Mind warns parents to keep crib tents away from open flames and cigarettes, and not to add any additional attachments to the crib tent. As with any child product, babies should not be left unattended in a crib tent for long periods of time.
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References
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