This is question that City of Chicago answered by banning the sale of bumper pads on Sept. 8, 2011. If you don’t have or haven’t been around infants, these are the pillow-like padding that is tied to the inside railing of a baby’s crib just above the mattress. Originally, bumper pads were the solution to a strangulation problem with cribs with wider crib slat spacing. Now, however, as crib slats are placed closer together, the bumper pads are more ornamental. But there are still some safety uses, i.e. preventing limbs from being caught or protection against the hard wood surface. Nevertheless, they carry a risk of strangulation if an infant rolls into it and does not have the strength to roll away.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the City of Chicago based the ban on the Tribune’s investigations “that found federal regulators for years have received reports of babies suffocating in cases that involved crib bumpers, yet have failed to warn parents or investigate all deaths.” See the full story here. The State of Maryland is also considering similar regulations.
While obviously saving a child’s life is of the utmost importance, it seems tenuous and to ban the sale of a product on the report of one newspaper’s research. Moreover, the City even admits that this type of regulation should be left to the Federal Government. Yet, they did it anyway to quote, “sound the alarm.” Should the City of Chicago be allowed to ban bumper pads in order to force Federal action? What consequences does this method of spurring action have? Let us know your thoughts.