NATIONAL REPORT—It is a frequently overlooked segment of hotel bedding but cribs made headlines nationwide last month following the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s ruling to officially ban the use of cribs with drop-down sides at both the retail and commercial levels. The federal ban will usher in a new generation of safer cribs that are more rigorously tested.
The ban on the drop-down side cribs— which have been blamed for the deaths of at least 30 infants in the last decade—follows the nearly 11 million cribs that have been recalled since 2007. As a result, new federal crib standards will take effect in June and will outlaw the manufacturing and sale of the cribs and prohibit their use in child-care facilities and hotels. Hotels will have two years to replace any substandard cribs.
According to the CPSC, cribs with drop-down sides can lead to strangulation or suffocation. In addition to banning the drop-down sides, the new standards to be put forth by the CPSC will require more stringent testing of cribs, specifically the durability of slats and sturdier crib hardware and mattress supports. Since the ban, which passed unanimously by the CPSC, manufacturers that supply cribs to hotels have been proactive working with their clients to clarify what the ban entails.
“There is a misconception that the drop-down sides being eliminated is the only change that will be involved with the new crib standards,” said Mark Suvak, vp of product development for Louisville, KY-based Foundations Worldwide, which works with Marriott, Hilton, Fairmont, Hyatt, Omni and Starwood. “Certainly it is the most obvious change and the one that can be easily identified. But there are also many new structural enhancements that are required to be engineered into cribs, which cannot be accessed through visual inspection…It is also critical to note that play yards are not impacted by the new standards.”
Certain major hotel brands like Starwood, for example, have already excluded cribs with drop-down sides from their brand standards. Other brands are working to revise their standards to be compliant. According to a statement from Marriott International, “For a number of years now it has been a brand standard at Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels to not use drop-side cribs. We are using the occasion of the recent federal ban as an opportunity to reiterate this standard to all of our hotels.”
Although government regulations will give hotel properties two years to make the product changes, in order to allow them enough time to budget in any necessary crib upgrades, Barnet Kessel, vp, sales operations for WEHSCO, cautioned hotels against putting off the changes since consumers are already very aware of the crib safety recalls. “Yes, rental and retail stores have been given six months, while hotels have been given two years [to replace banned cribs]. But it is not in a hotel’s best interest to wait until the 11th hour. Parents are already hyper-aware because of the attention the media has given this issue and they are very savvy and safety-conscious. If they go to a hotel and a drop-side crib is sent to the room, they will know it’s illegal,” he said. “So if you put off replacing them until the last minute, know you will have your guests to answer too. This is a very high profile way to show guests you are concerned about their safety.”
Suvak added postponing the replacement of banned cribs until the deadline may also create product shortages. “It makes sense to start the conversion early. Hotels that choose to wait may find themselves in a situation where their demand cannot be met,” he said. “Hotels should be prepared to face a substantial amount of questions, especially those in family-popular destinations, about their cribs from consumers.”
While the recent ban is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, crib manufacturers and suppliers also continue to stress the importance of purchasing cribs that are made for hospitality use. “Commercial crib standards are hopefully coming next,” Kessel commented. “Commercial cribs are subjected to such different wear and tear than a retail crib that just sits stationary in a home. In a hotel, they are moved, folded, etc. Think about it—the towels in a hotel are commercial grade, why aren’t the cribs?”
Suvak echoed that sentiment adding, “Hotels really should not buy retail cribs, which are not designed to be as robust or durable as those products that are designed specifically for hospitality use,” he said. For hotels that are selecting new cribs to replace older products, they should ensure with any supplier that the cribs are compliant to the 16 CFR 1220 standard.
After the ban officially goes into effect, it is likely significantly more attention will be given to crib safety measures in the hospitality industry. However, Kessel noted many hoteliers are already taking note. “I have already had six calls today—asking about the safety of the cribs they currently have and others looking into starting the replacement process. That’s a good sign,” he said.