“More Than 5 Million Cribs, Bassinets and Play Yards Have Been Recalled In The Last Two Years,” according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s April 2009 report.

Keeping Babies Safe exists to provide education and leadership in keeping babies safe from preventable injuries and deaths associated with unsafe cribs, dangerous infant products and unsafe sleep environments.  Keeping Babies Safe works as an advocate and information resource for parents to ensure that cribs and sleeping environments for children remain safe.  “Parents need to be better informed about product recalls, crib safety facts and be vigilant about what to look for when purchasing, obtaining and maintaining cribs to ensure their safety,” says President of Keeping Babies Safe, Joyce Davis. 

“More than 21 crib designs and 5 million recalls in the past two years is unacceptable,” says Davis.  “Cribs are the most important product in your home for your baby.  It’s the only place where your child is left unattended.”  New cribs meeting the standards established by the Consumer Product Safety Commission are generally considered safe, however, a new crib with loose parts or screws can be dangerous.  Many cribs being sold in 'secondary markets' such as thrift stores and resale furniture stores can be unsafe and cribs offered by hotels and motels are older models and can also be unsafe.  Between 2002 and 2004, 32 children died each year because of unsafe cribs.  In 2006, 11,300 infants were injured in cribs and 1,100 injured in play yards and play pens*; most infant injuries occur in secondhand or hand me-down cribs.  “These dangers are completely preventable,” says Davis.  “We can and shall do better."

In addition to providing education and safety guidelines to parents, Keeping Babies Safe has mounted Project Safe Crib, a non-profit program designed to help parents from economically challenged environments obtain safe cribs through human service organizations around the country.  Project Safe Crib purchases safe cribs at an industry discount and offers them to Health and Human Services organizations that have demonstrated a thorough training in safe crib practices.  The cribs are brought into homes by these trained professionals and set up to the highest safety standards.  In 2008, Project Safe Crib donated 350 cribs to families nationwide.
Keeping Babies Safe is a volunteer organization of committed and dedicated people.  Our mission recognizes a need not addressed by other organizations.  Keeping Babies Safe is an incorporated, non-profit, 501-c-3 organization.  We invite you to join us in this noble venture.  Please consider being a volunteer, hosting a fundraising event or donating to Project Safe Crib.  We can assure you that 100% of your donation will go to saving the lives of innocent babies.  For every $100 raised, Keeping Babies Safe is able to purchase a new crib for those in need.

• Source, Consumer Product Safety Commission