Hand-me-down crib with 1/2 inch gaps safe?

[kkchan]

I received a hand-me-down Child Craft crib from a friend prior to buying the book. (The only identifier are some numbers on the warning sticker: 01700-7-98.) I checked many websites on crib safety, and everything seems to check out. But one thing is really bothering me. There are 1/2 inch gaps between the top of the side rails and the end panels. I know that a small gap may be necessary since the hardware for the foot-bar side releases is all exposed. But is this a potential hazard that I should be worried about? Should I throw out the crib and get a new one?

[angusmom]

You can go to the jpma web site at www.jpma.org and find a lot of good information on safety. Also go to http://www.cpsc.gov/ and you can find out about recalls. Lastly, call Child Creft directly and ask them specifically about it - see what they say - they can maybe tell you when the crib was manufactured. If it's more than one or two years old, you might want to get a new one just to be safe. www.childcraftindustries.com