Dropside crib kit/plans?

[Larry Edgerton]

A few years ago I built a dropside crib for my granddaughter. It was called the Heirloom Crib Kit I believe.I bought the crib kit with plans from Rockler I believe.

I now want to build a exact copy for my other daughter that is having a son, my grandson. But the plans are no longer there and are not on Woodsmiths site either. I found the hardware, but still want the plans as this is going to be a after work project, and I don't want to have to think too much when I am tired. I'm working six or seven days a week till I can't stand up and don't see that changing until after my grandson is born.

So, a couple of questions.

Where are the plans?

Why are the plans off of the market? My granddaughter is grown now and had no problems with the bed, but maybe the safety folks banned it? I did cut a finger off making the last one when someone startled me, but that is not the kits fault. If there is a problem I would like to know about it.

Thanks, Larry

[Greg Peterson]

Larry - The drop side crib was banned a couple of years ago.

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20101215/drop-side-cribs-banned-safety-issues

As to why the hardware is still available, my guess there is a loop hole in the regulations that allows the hardware to be available in the market.

[Larry Edgerton]

Thats kind of what I expected when I could not find plans, even at the place that sold the hardware. I guess there is no reason not to build the same thing with solid sides, but that article did not specify what exactly was the problem. I'll dig around some more.

Thanks, Larry

[Larry Edgerton]

Ok, I read a few articles as I was a little freaked out as I had built my granddaughter one. I seems that it was a problem with cheap plastic hardware. The cribs would break and allow the babies head to get between the mattress and the drop side. It seemed to start showing up about 13 years ago.

The kit that I used was all USA made, very heavy steel, solid threaded inserts to hold the hardware to the wooden frame, and was not going anywhere. There were no plastic parts other than the teething rail cover.

Still, I am not going to build another one, but I suspect the problem is with import quality rather than the design itself.

Thanks again, Larry

[Greg Peterson]

Poor quality construction and materials can create a safety hazard. Old, dilapidated cribs, fluffy objects and stuffed toys represent hazards as well.

I'm sure that anyone making a crib for their children or grand children is not going to skimp quality. But there are many furniture manufacturers mass producing low quality, price point sensitive products. It's one thing for a chair, couch or table to fail due to low quality materials.

http://childrenshospitalblog.org/why-ban-drop-side-cribs/ (http://childrenshospitalblog.org/why-ban-drop-side-cribs/)

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-07-14/us/crib.standards_1_drop-side-cribs-new-cribs-mattress-support?_s=PM:US

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-12-15/news/27084483_1_drop-side-cribs-loose-hardware-babies