New crib safety regulations announced

The federal government has unveiled new regulations around how cribs are manufactured, in a bid to make them safer for infants.

Since 2009 close to three million cribs have been recalled in Canada, most of them of the drop-side variety, because of potential suffocation risks.

The biggest recall involved a Canadian-designed and manufactured crib made by Stork Craft, of Richmond, B.C. About two million of its cribs were recalled, including 968,800 in Canada, after four children suffocated.

While the new regulations don't address drop-side cribs, they do broaden the definition of a crib to include stand-alone bassinets, and eliminate the distinction between standard and portable cribs.

The regulations also add new flammability and side-height standards. Cribs made and sold in Canada will also have to eliminate any toeholds that can allow a child to climb out.

"These amendments further strengthen our existing safety requirements and introduce new standards for bassinets, which were previously unregulated in Canada," said Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.

The new regulations are part of the Hazardous Products Act, which the government hopes to replace soon with a new consumer bill intended to give the government more teeth when dealing with consumer products.

The government is also continuing its consultations on drop-side cribs. Proposals before the government would ban the controversial cribs, along with any with sides that are not rigidly attached.