Cribs with drop sides are convenient for parents but they can be deadly for babies.

"There have been a tremendous number of failures of cribs whose drop sides have broken away because of broke, lose or missing hardware," says Don Mays, senior director of product safety at Consumer Reports.

"This has caused a few fatalities actually of children who have been entrapped in the crib drop sides."

That's why Consumer Reports advises parents not to use a crib with a drop side.

"Consumers should opt for cribs with either solid panels or permanent sides that don't drop," Mays says. "The stationary side cribs, we think, provide a safer sleeping environment for children."

If you do have a crib with a drop side and can't afford to get rid of it, do a safety check. Make sure all of the hardware is there and that it's working properly.

"If in fact any of the hardware is missing or broken, stop using the crib immediately," Mays says.

Don't try to fix it yourself with do-it-yourself parts. Get the correct parts from the manufacturer.

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