Are drop sided cots lethal?

[happyeverafterhome]

From June 2011 USA will ban drop sided cots after several deaths. Faulty / badly assembled cots led to the side partially dropping down, creating a space which trapped & in some cases killed the baby. (information from "Which?" magazine web site). Given this info, would Mumsnetters avoid drop sided cots and campaign to have them banned here too? UK does not collect similar accident data so dangers not known and no ban planned.

Err no! All 4 of mine had dropside, my back would have never managed without! One went faulty so I put dropside down and against wall..fine! Just keep an eye on the fixings...if they are broken do not use.

Lordy, with my bad back I'd never get my babies out of bed in the morning. Just couldn't bend far enough down!

Hi, I have just finished a test of cot beds for Which? magazine and talked to our furniture safety experts about this issue. They said that the problem that occurred in the States could not occur with a cot that passes the British Standards in the UK. The problem was that the sides were not fixed at the bottom, so kids cold slip out and get stuck.
I find it hard to believe the lack of safety standards for children's equipment in the states, but there is no reason to believe that the drop sides on UK cot beds are inherently dangerous. Just make sure you never leave the baby unattended with the side down and you should be ok. Read the instructions - they do contain useful safety advice!