Pack n Plays Are Not Safe for Sleeping????

[spedmommy4]

I was recently awarded a health and safety grant through First 5 of California. As part of the grant process, someone (a registered nurse) came out and completed a safety assessment.

The assessor recommended replacing my pack n play with a collapsible wooden crib, which they would pay for. I have done a search but can't find any research to support their claim. Has anyone else heard this?? If so, any links to articles on the subject?

[Febby]

KY regulations don't allow PNPs. Unfortunately, I've never got a clear answer on why. One trainer once told me that she thought it was due to issues with providers not setting them up appropriately, but she wasn't sure.

Did the assessor tell you what the safety concerns were? Aside from child care in my state, I've always been told they were fine for sleeping.

[spedmommy4]

KY regulations don't allow PNPs. Unfortunately, I've never got a clear answer on why. One trainer once told me that she thought it was due to issues with providers not setting them up appropriately, but she wasn't sure.

Did the assessor tell you what the safety concerns were? Aside from child care in my state, I've always been told they were fine for sleeping.

She could not cite any research, just said they are unsafe for sleeping. I used pack n plays with my own kids. I keep up on safe sleep practices and had never heard anything about them being unsafe. I'm wondering if this is just her opinion or it is based on fact.

[Blackcat31]

She could not cite any research, just said they are unsafe for sleeping. I used pack n plays with my own kids. I keep up on safe sleep practices and had never heard anything about them being unsafe. I'm wondering if this is just her opinion or it is based on fact.

From my understanding when they over hauled the safety rules for cribs ~ providers needed to have cribs with the safety certificates showing the cribs were manufactured after June of 2011 (??? I cant remember the exact date) we were told that safety rules in regards to PNP would be coming sometime soon.

So far we have not been told of any specific rules/regulation changes but I have a few parents that work in our county DHS offices and several have said that pretty soon only mini cribs or wooden cribs would be approved.

I don't know your rules in CA but I am betting since the crib thing affected all of us in every state, I am guessing that it's a common "I've heard" piece of info being passed around every state.

[snbauser]

I know here they changed the regs to not allow pnp's for centers and we were told that the regs for fcc would be coming soon as well.

[permanentvacation]

Personally, I HATE cribs for daycare children because they are always getting their arms and legs through the slots and then trying to roll over without pulling their arm or leg back in through the slot. I am constantly worried that they are going to sprain or damage their arms and legs when they do that.

Pack and plays' sides are so short that many children can climb out of them. Technically, they are legal in my area for kids up to age 2. But they want us to try to get kids to sleep on mats or sleeping bags on the floor at age 1 if possible to keep them from climbing out of the pack and play. I don't know why they are not legal in your area for sleeping. But the kids climbing out of them might be one reason.

[spud912]

The reason is because pack n plays are not easily sanitized. I used to work as a regulator and non-porous surfaces (wood) can and should be sprayed down regularly with a chlorine solution to disinfect. Porous surfaces must be sanitized properly in a washing machine with a diluted bleach solution. Since you cannot break down the soft porous sides of a pack n play to wash in a washing machine, it is not easily cleanable. For example, if a child is infected with norovirus and he vomits during nap time on the side of the crib, how would someone properly clean and sanitize the mesh sides? I suppose you could hose it down outside and spray it with a chlorine solution, but it's not easily cleanable. Let's say it happened at the first nap and there is a different child coming in the afternoon who needs that crib for sleeping. How would you have it properly cleaned in time?

I understand why so many use them, but I personally don't like using them with the exception of my own children when we are on a trip. I much prefer wooden cribs that can be cleaned easily. Just my 2 cents

[Miss A]

The reason is because pack n plays are not easily sanitized. I used to work as a regulator and non-porous surfaces (wood) can and should be sprayed down regularly with a chlorine solution to disinfect. Porous surfaces must be sanitized properly in a washing machine with a diluted bleach solution. Since you cannot break down the soft porous sides of a pack n play to wash in a washing machine, it is not easily cleanable. For example, if a child is infected with norovirus and he vomits during nap time on the side of the crib, how would someone properly clean and sanitize the mesh sides? I suppose you could hose it down outside and spray it with a chlorine solution, but it's not easily cleanable. Let's say it happened at the first nap and there is a different child coming in the afternoon who needs that crib for sleeping. How would you have it properly cleaned in time?

I understand why so many use them, but I personally don't like using them with the exception of my own children when we are on a trip. I much prefer wooden cribs that can be cleaned easily. Just my 2 cents

I fold mine up and soak them in diluted bleach water in my bath tub, and then let them air dry. I also use Lysol and Clorox wipes at the end of every day, as only one child uses a certain pack and play each day.

[spud912]

Yes, they can be cleaned, but not easily. Properly cleaning a wooden crib, vinyl nap mat or cot can be accomplished in 10 minutes. Cleaning bedding from start to finish can be done in 2 hours max. Soaking a pack n play and letting it dry takes at least 8 hours. If a child got into his poopy diaper during morning nap and smeared the feces on the mesh (it happens), it would not be properly cleaned by afternoon nap.

[MarinaVanessa]

OP are you in CA? I haven't heard anything at all about pack n plays being unsafe. I just had an inspection last week and my analyst didn't mention anything about the pack n play that I have. We have a pilot QRIS program going on right now and there is no restrictions on pack n plays for them either, and they're pretty strict.

[Annalee]

OP are you in CA? I haven't heard anything at all about pack n plays being unsafe. I just had an inspection last week and my analyst didn't mention anything about the pack n play that I have. We have a pilot QRIS program going on right now and there is no restrictions on pack n plays for them either, and they're pretty strict.

Same here! The only restriction we have is the actual PNP fitted mat that comes with the PNP has to be used with the it. BUT nothing would surprise me anymore when it comes to licensing/QRIS!

[Blackcat31]

I was recently awarded a health and safety grant through First 5 of California. As part of the grant process, someone (a registered nurse) came out and completed a safety assessment.

The assessor recommended replacing my pack n play with a collapsible wooden crib, which they would pay for. I have done a search but can't find any research to support their claim. Has anyone else heard this?? If so, any links to articles on the subject?

This is the only info I was able to find and its dated Spring 2013

Page 6 addresses Pack and Play standards

http://ccld.ca.gov/res/pdf/CCUpdateSpring2013.pdf

[MarinaVanessa]

This is the only info I was able to find and its dated Spring 2013

Page 6 addresses Pack and Play standards
http://ccld.ca.gov/res/pdf/CCUpdateSpring2013.pdf

I remember this update ... at this point all current pack n plays were compliant to these standards, it was the older one's that people were buying used that didn't always meet standards. When this update came out I bought 2 new pack n plays (I needed to anyway). I hope we don't see any more updates that make it so that I have to use a folding crib or mini crib ... I don't have the room for that

[Leigh]

The reason is because pack n plays are not easily sanitized. I used to work as a regulator and non-porous surfaces (wood) can and should be sprayed down regularly with a chlorine solution to disinfect. Porous surfaces must be sanitized properly in a washing machine with a diluted bleach solution. Since you cannot break down the soft porous sides of a pack n play to wash in a washing machine, it is not easily cleanable. For example, if a child is infected with norovirus and he vomits during nap time on the side of the crib, how would someone properly clean and sanitize the mesh sides? I suppose you could hose it down outside and spray it with a chlorine solution, but it's not easily cleanable. Let's say it happened at the first nap and there is a different child coming in the afternoon who needs that crib for sleeping. How would you have it properly cleaned in time?

I understand why so many use them, but I personally don't like using them with the exception of my own children when we are on a trip. I much prefer wooden cribs that can be cleaned easily. Just my 2 cents

I know this isn't possible everywhere, but I purchase a $30 pack n play for EVERY child that starts. No one ever uses another child's pack n play. When the child leaves, I usually turn their pnp into an outdoor one, sometimes I send it with the child, sometimes I sell it.

[Blackcat31]

I remember this update ... at this point all current pack n plays were compliant to these standards, it was the older one's that people were buying used that didn't always meet standards. When this update came out I bought 2 new pack n plays (I needed to anyway). I hope we don't see any more updates that make it so that I have to use a folding crib or mini crib ... I don't have the room for that

My state hasn't regulated PNP...yet... but when they do I am going to have to go with the mini wooden cribs because I do NOT want a full sized crib and I refuse to buy any of these newer PNP's as they are so tiny and disposable-like.

I have an older Graco (like 15+ yrs older) and 2 of the JMason's that NannyDe talks about and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them and totally understand why she loves them so. lovethis