It's one of the biggest purchases for soon-to-be parents: a crib for baby. Beginning Tuesday, a new generation of cribs, designed to be safer, will be the only ones approved for sale — in stores, online, and even at neighborhood yard sales.

Ushering in one of the most significant changes in child safety in decades, the rule taking effect this week bans the manufacture, sale and resale of drop-side cribs. Drop-sides have a side rail that can be raised and lowered to allow parents to more easily place or lift a baby, but they have been blamed in the deaths of several dozen children.

Another significant part of the new federal standard mandates more rigorous safety tests for children's cribs before they hit the market. In the past, manufacturers were allowed to retighten screws and bolts on a crib in the middle of hardware testing meant to mimic how a child might rattle a crib — by jumping up and down or shaking a rail.

While the tests were intended to simulate a toddler in a crib, they don't mimic the reality of the parent. It's a rare parent who would know when to retighten obscure pieces of hardware on a crib during normal use by a child.

The retightening of screws and bolts during durability tests on cribs ends Tuesday, as part of the new rule approved last year by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Stronger mattress support systems and crib slats are also a major part of the new testing.

"After 30 years of having outdated standards, CPSC delivered on its promise and created the toughest crib safety standards in the world," Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum told The Associated Press. "Parents can now shop for a crib with confidence."

New cribs on the market won't really look different other than the obvious absence of a movable side that drops down. Now, all four sides will be fixed and the cribs should be sturdier because of the tougher testing requirements.

Drop-side cribs have been around for decades. But they have increasingly come under scrutiny in recent years because of malfunctioning hardware, sometimes cheaper plastics, or assembly problems that can lead to the drop-side rail partially detaching. That can create a dangerous "V"-like gap with the mattress in which a baby can get caught and suffocate.

Drop-sides are blamed in the deaths of more than 30 infants and toddlers since 2000 and suspected in about a dozen other infant fatalities. Since 2007, more than 9 million drop-sides have been recalled including cribs from Evenflo and Pottery Barn Kids.

The end of drop-side cribs marks a long-awaited day for Susan Cirigliano, who lost her 6-month-old son, Bobby, when his drop-side slid off the tracks in 2004, trapping his head and neck between the mattress and the malfunctioning side rail. He suffocated.

"It's bittersweet. It is not going to change my life as far as what has already happened to us," said Cirigliano, who lives in North Bellmore on New York's Long Island. "But hopefully, it will save many more children. I am sure it will."

While drop-side cribs will no longer be made or sold, they are still being used in homes across the nation. The industry says drop-sides that haven't been recalled can be used safely as long as they are properly assembled and maintained to the manufacturer's instructions. Manufacturers do not recommend using cribs that are more than 10 years old.

Industry officials say a healthy supply of new cribs awaits shoppers.

"Our members are currently selling cribs that meet the new federal standard and parents will continue to enjoy a large selection of cribs in a range of price points," said Michael Dwyer, executive director of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, a trade group that represents about 90 percent of the crib industry.

A new crib can cost from about $120 to more than $700, with about 2.4 million of them sold each year.

While manufacturers have been making cribs to the new standard for months, some retailers still have cribs in stock that will be banned on Tuesday. One estimate suggests more than 100,000 noncompliant cribs costing more than $30 million in lost sales.

The two Republican commissioners at the CPSC tried this month to secure an extension for dozens of retailers, many of them smaller ones, to allow them at least a few more months to sell their inventory.

"I would have liked to have seen a three-month grace period for retailers," Republican Commissioner Anne Northup said in an AP interview. "We should have staggered it so that if we allow manufacturers to deliver up until June 28th, we should have allowed retailers a certain amount of time for them to sell what was legal."

The three Democrats on the commission, however, blocked an extension.

The agency is allowing daycare centers, hotels and companies that rent cribs additional time to comply — until Dec. 28, 2012, before they need to purchase cribs that meet the new safety standards.

The government took a big step Wednesday toward eliminating from stores, hotels and daycare centers any crib with a side rail that can be raised and lowered — so-called drop-side cribs.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission proposed new rules that would ban the manufacture, sale and resale of drop-side cribs. The new crib standard, likely to take effect next year, would also outlaw drop-sides at motels, hotels and childcare facilities.

The push to ban drop-sides came as the commission announced the recall of 82,000 cribs from popular retailer Pottery Barn Kids. CPSC said the cribs could pose a suffocation or entrapment risk to young children.

The recall involves all Pottery Barn Kids drop-side cribs regardless of model number. The company is offering free kits to immobilize the drop-side rail of the cribs.

Drop-side cribs, around for decades, have come under scrutiny in recent years because of hardware problems that can lead to the drop-side rail partially detaching from the crib. When that happens, it can create a dangerous "V"-like gap between the mattress and side rail where a baby can get caught and suffocate or strangle.

With Wednesday's vote, the commission agreed to develop a new standard to make cribs with four fixed sides mandatory. It also proposed more stringent tests for cribs and the use of more durable materials, such as metal screws instead of wooden ones.

"We will have a new crib standard after 28 years," said Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "We've seen a number of tragedies because we had such a weak crib standard."

Drop-sides have been blamed in the deaths of at least 32 infants and toddlers since 2000 and are suspected in another 14 infant fatalities. In the past five years, more than 9 million drop-side cribs have been recalled, including about 2 million recalled last month from Evenflo, Delta Enterprise Corp. and several other companies.

Crib-makers have already started phasing out drop-sides and big retailers such as Babies R Us aren't selling them. An organization that sets voluntary industry standards, ASTM International, backed a drop-side ban late last year.

Mike Dwyer, executive director of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, which represents over 90 percent of the crib industry, says his group has worked with CPSC on the proposed new standard and fully supports the commission's efforts.

While drop-side cribs have been used for many years, consumer advocates say today's drop-sides are not as sturdy as those of the past. Many newer cribs have plastic tracking guides for the side that drops down — made of materials that critics say are more prone to breaking than the metal rods on cribs many of our parents used.

Industry officials also attribute some of the problems associated with drop-sides to parents assembling the cribs incorrectly.

Congress has targeted drop-side cribs, too, with legislation to outlaw them from New York Democratic lawmakers Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Joe Crowley.

Wednesday's vote by the commission for a new crib standard will be followed by a comment period, with a final rule and vote expected in December. If approved, the new standard would probably not become effective until next summer.

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Online:

Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov

Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association: http://www.jpma.org

More than 2 million cribs from Evenflo, Delta Enterprise Corp. and five other companies were recalled Thursday amid concerns that babies can suffocate, become trapped or fall from the cribs.

Most of the cribs were drop-sides, which have a side rail that moves up and down so parents can lift children from them more easily. That movable side, however, can malfunction or detach from the crib, creating a dangerous gap where babies' heads can become trapped, leading to suffocation or strangulation.

The other companies involved in the recall were Child Craft, Jardine Enterprises, LaJobi, Million Dollar Baby and Simmons Juvenile Products.

No deaths were linked to the recalled cribs, but there were more than 250 reports of drop-sides detaching or failing and at least 16 entrapments of infants. In one case, a child was found unconscious and later hospitalized.

In the announcement from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, all seven companies recalled drop-side cribs. Delta and Child Craft also acknowledged problems with fixed-side cribs.

Drop-sides have increasingly come under scrutiny, with several warnings from the CPSC in the last year that the cribs can be deadly. CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum has pledged to ban their manufacture and sale by year's end.

"This new recall announcement is part of a larger effort by CPSC to clean up the marketplace from many of these unsafe cribs," said Tenenbaum. "Most of these recalled cribs have dangerous drop-sides, while the Delta crib can pose a danger to babies if the mattress support is installed incorrectly."

CPSC urged parents to stop using the cribs and contact the manufacturers for repair kits to immobilize the drop-side or information to make the cribs more secure.

The recalls involved about:

_750,000 Jenny Lind drop-side cribs distributed by Evenflo Inc.

_747,000 Delta drop-side cribs. Delta is also urging parents to check all fixed and drop-side cribs that use wooden stabilizer bars to support the mattress. The company says the bars can be installed upside down, causing the mattress platform to collapse. CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson said Delta "was not cooperative with providing the full number of units involved in the mattress support assembly problem."

_306,000 Bonavita, Babi Italia and ISSI drop-side cribs manufactured by LaJobi Inc.

_130,000 Jardine drop-side cribs imported by Toys R Us.

_156,000 Million Dollar Baby drop-side cribs.

_50,000 Simmons drop-side cribs.

_40,000 to 50,000 Child Craft brand stationary-side cribs and an unknown number of Child Craft brand drop-sides. Child Craft ceased operations last summer and sold its name to Foundations Worldwide Inc., which did not manufacture or sell any of the recalled cribs but will offer rebates for some of them.

With Thursday's announcement, 9 million drop-side cribs have been recalled in the past five years. Drop-sides have been blamed in the deaths of at least 32 infants and toddlers since 2000. The cribs are suspected in another 14 infant fatalities during that time.

Congress is also concerned about the cribs. Legislation has been introduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., to outlaw the sale and manufacture of drop-sides. A similar bill has been introduced in the House by Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley, also of New York.

Drop-side cribs have been around for decades, but consumer advocates say they are not as sturdy as those of the past. Older cribs had metal rods that guided the drop-side up and down. Many newer cribs have plastic tracking guides for the drop-side that critics say are more prone to breaking.

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, which represents over 90 percent of the crib industry, urges parents not to use cribs with loose or missing parts. It also says consumers should not use a crib that is older than 10 years because it may not comply with current standards.

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Online:

Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov

Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association: http://www.jpma.org

Cribs with a side rail that moves up and down so parents can lift children from them more easily would be banned under legislation aimed at reducing infant deaths.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., introduced a bill late Monday to outlaw the sale and manufacture of the cribs following the deaths of at least 32 infants and toddlers who suffocated or were strangled in drop-side cribs since 2000. The cribs are suspected in another 14 infant fatalities during that time.

Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., plans to introduce similar legislation this week in the House.

The industry has already started phasing out drop-sides and big retailers such as Babies R Us and Wal-Mart have taken them off sale floors. Yet there are still plenty for sale on the Internet and being used in homes and day cares.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which regulates cribs, has warned about the problem. And its chairman, Inez Tenenbaum, has pledged to ban the manufacture and sale of cribs by the end of the year with a new standard that would make fixed-side cribs mandatory. It could be several months into 2011 before becoming effective.

Gillibrand hopes to accelerate efforts for a ban, whether it be from Congress or the CPSC.

The industry says drop-side cribs that haven't been recalled are safe as long as they are used and assembled according to manufacturer's instructions.

"A properly assembled, fully functional crib is the safest place for baby," said Mike Dwyer, executive director of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, which represents over 90 percent of the crib industry.

Dwyer warned against buying second-hand cribs from garage sales or thrift stores unless all hardware and assembly instructions are included. Even then, he said, industry is concerned that those cribs may not meet current federal or voluntary standards.

More than 7 million drop-side cribs have been recalled in the past five years.

Consumer advocate Don Mays says drop-sides these days are not as sturdy as those of the past.

"The manufacturing of cribs has been outsourced to foreign factories and as a result, in trying to drive costs down and production levels up, they have substituted hardware that is just as not as durable," said Mays, senior director of product safety at Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports.

"They are inferior with regard to durability and inferior with regard to performance," said Mays, whose CU lab tests about 20 cribs a year, and has been testing cribs for more than 20 years.

Older cribs had metal rods that guided the drop-side up and down. Newer cribs have plastic tracking guides for the drop-side that Mays says is more prone to breaking.

When the hardware malfunctions, the drop-side rail can detach partially from the crib. That creates a dangerous "V"-like gap between the mattress and side rail where a baby can get caught and suffocate or strangle.

Manufacturers also have seen cases where parents installed the drop-side improperly, sometimes upside down, or they have reassembled a crib for a second or third child with some of the screws or other hardware missing — which can also lead to detachments of the drop-side.

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Several crib manufacturers are calling for a ban on their own cribs. The reason? They say they're just not safe.