We recently received an email from Chris Johnson, the Vice President of the Fire Instructors & Officers Association of New Hampshire with information for this extremely interesting product. The pictures speak for themselves:
photo: whitneybros.com
While these cribs were originally intended to be used in day care centers, it would not be unreasonable to find one in a residential setting for a family with twins. In fact, there are a number of websites geared toward marketing these cribs specifically to parents of twins. One of the available options for these cribs is an acrylic gate as shown below. The acrylic gate is a special concern because in a low visibility environments, the crib could certainly be mistaken for a bookcase, dresser, or some other piece of furniture. Another interesting situation created by these cribs is that unlike a common crib were the child can simply be lifted out, these have to be “un-latched” to remove the child. Some of them have some intricate latching systems, obviously we could get it open in no time, it’s just another thing that we’d have to deal with. This once again proves the point that we never know what we may come across out there.
photo: daycareuniverse.com
ok…. the 2nd pic looks like a display case at a pet store for christ sakes lol
Why are people with children so freakin’ weird sometimes?
Agreed, I was expecting to see some sort of sale signs or price tags on the second pic.
How much is that baby in the window???
No doubt, is this product just preparing the babies for there future of doing actually jail time. But its good info cause if you came across this in thick smoke conditions you would think its a book case. So you will go form a hero to a zero. Thanks for posting it up its a good thing to know.
No pounding on the glass guys, leave the THINGS alone, and please don’t feed them whatever you do.I once saw these thingd on the discovery channel and it was not a pretty site once they started throwing fecal matter at you. Thats why they have been put into these enclosed pods. Dynamic
Ugly. The acrylic will melt and laminate the babies. Don’t these things have to be tested for fire safety?
This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer lets his small freinds sleep in his dresser.
What can be said that hasn’t already been said…
Thanks for the post. If you think seriously about it, this could easily be mistaken in low vis conditions…scary. Definitely something to file away in the ol’ noggin.
Oh, and I almost forgot…I call top bunk!!!
Three simple letters: W-T-F.
don’t know about you guys, but I still see room for one more in that bottom drawer.
Can we get this in adult size? Sure would open up the bunk room and give us more space for activities.
randylawson@twlakes.net is the guy that makes these things. Let him know what your concerns are. They are marketed to day care centers so in a fire you may have multiple victims in these things
I could also see a problem with thermal imaging cameras not being able to detect a heat signature through the acrylic in heavy smoke conditions. One more potential problem.
I was just going to second what fireman140 said. Anything on the other side of that acrylic gate wont be picked up with a TIC. I will probably look like a big fish tank.
All jokes aside, these are in 2 of the day care centers in my first due, and from about 9:30 to 11 AM there’s about 12-15 kids sleeping in them.
We actually ran into the “baby display system” at a local daycare center that has kids overnight. the hand made unit was in the kitchen. we handed it over to prevention and they took care of it. they had also fashioned a “baby swing” by hanging the kids in their car seats on a metal rod with large u shaped metal hangers. you could fit 5 kids across. amazing. stay safe
In any situation where the smoke is heavy the kids in the top will likely be DOA.
Given time I think that we will know where they are as kids fall out of them! Seriously does anyone actually think before they create or authorize this crap?
Good call on the top shelf DOA’s. Presents a real potential for tragedy. Besides, it’s not like you can pre-plan what the Jones’ received at their baby shower.
One of my first Building Inspections in a daycare I did in Brooklyn many years ago had the babies in the “homemade” version. There were probably about 25-30 babies in what we thought were cages from a petstore. Stacked from about 2 feet to about 5 1/2 feet. With 1 “caregiver” who also had older kids to watch. With the stench of soiled diapers filing the air.
Unlike a pet store with puppies in them with people “ooing and aahing” I felt like crying. It is no wonder how some people turn out when they begin life like that.
No joke about the drawers. My wife’s infant sister once slept in a bureau drawer in a hotel during a family vacation. Maybe something to watch for with hard economic times and more extended family sharing cramped quarters.
I know of a somewhat “hippie” family, that used the top drawer in a chest of drawers for a basonette for the first couple of months of their newborn’s life. That would probably fall into the DOA category on a really smokey fire, and would probably be missed on primary with almost any smoke condition. It sucks for us, but unfortunately people just don’t think about these things.
So I have to give the due credit to my wife for stumbling across these contraptions online… still not sure why she was looking for sleeping arrangements for twins…
Anyways, it turns out the manufacturer is right down the street from me. I called to see if I could get in to see one and get some detailed pics to share, but as soon as I said fire department the shields went up. There was no way they were letting anyone with a safety concern within a mile of their place! Don’t worry though, I was strongly assured they are tested, meet all applicable safety standards, and are definately only intended for daytime use in approved daycare centers… I was also told there’s no way I had seen one for sale on Craigslist or on any websites for parents of twins!
Be safe Brothers!
I wonder if ground penetrating RADAR would work through the ceiling to see if they were occupied or not. . .
I am the manufacturer of the first product shown and I’ve stumbled across this string with some consternation. I asked about Chris’ inquiry and one of the staff recalled the conversation. Chris asked for an address of a customer who has one of our cribs and we can’t give that out for privacy reasons. But we’d be glad to set one up here at our facility so that Chris can see one. He would find us very open to any constructive critisms he might have. Just call here Chris and ask for me by name.
There’s no doubt that by design the product elicits questions and comments much like what has been written on this site. We acknowledge that this product is not for everyone. Most of the demand comes from facilities like churches with very limited space. We had the item extensively vetted by third party test entities. It is as safe as we can make the item.
Fire is a concern with any furniture item. That is why we use a latch mechnism as large and as simple as the one we use. We’ve stayed away from any acrylic. We made the item with all applicable warnings. As for the Craig’s List comment, I can’t confirm or control what is sold on the List. Constructive suggestions are welcome.
I understand mulitple kids in the household, but honesly it looks more like a jumbo hamester tank that you’d see in a pet store, then a place for your baby to sleep… Crazy
Mr. Johnson; In the interest of constructive criticism, what is your thought on creating a sauce crib version of your product?
Is it feasible that a facility that has multiples of your cribs, could place several children in a unit with wheels, sturdier build, and handles for emergency evac? I thing E-cribs are required for facilities with X-number of infants. But, in a facility using stacked cribs, they could benefit from more “shelf” space in an emergency.
Uh, err. “sauce” crib? I mean. “Emergency” Crib.
Don’t ask how T9 came up with that error!
Our Engine co.21 conducted a search while attempting to locate the seat of the fire at a single story residential fire. I was on the nozzle and encountered about six baby cribs in the living room. It turned out to be a whorehouse. You can only imagine the things found in this house. You never really know what you may encounter. I also got caught up in some wiring (extension cords). Be safe !!
With the second cribs with the windows would pose a problem with the tic for sure.
Good point about the TIC not picking up an image behind the glass.
Car 8721-
This isn’t my product… I just passed it along to Jimm in the interest of sharing firefighter safety information.
Thanks for taking the “constructive criticism” route. As I posted previously, I did contact the manufacturer and they were less than receptive to my suggestion that their product was a cause of safety concern from the firefighting community.
Bottom line: these things are out there and will challenge us to really be on our A-games. We’re on the same page, Brother.
Be safe,
Chris
Oh hey, no kidding…
I just scrolled up and saw the comment posted on here by the manufacturer. David, thanks for stepping up to let us see your product, I’ll be in touch and will gladly pass the results on to be posted on the site.
BTW, my request when I called was actually to visit the showroom and take some pics of the actual product to share with the fire service in general. When I was advised there wasn’t a showroom I asked where I might be able to see one set up. None-the-less, I’ll gladly accept their invitation now. Stand by… more to follow.
Be safe Brothers.
Chris
I understand this forum allows us to disseminate important finds that may save a life one day. However, how does this information change how I will do my search? Will I now open all cabinets during my primary in the event that there is a baby inside one of them? Very good find, though. lol @ 1838’s comment.
this is some bunk ass shit to put your babies in a rabbit cage.
How would I go about ordering one of these lovey cribs?
how much are these stackable beds
Endorsed by Octomom….
The things some people come up with.
In case you don’t possess your own personal shades,
your physician could be able to provide you with disposable sun-shades to help.
Cups offer two principal applications today; they allow you to see better, and so they assist you to appear better.
Just gotta say… I’m a mom with 3 under three and I own one of these. Truly a god send for moms of multiples with low amount of space. I understand the rabbit cage comments… I get them regularly. However, my kids love the bunks, and they are safe. Now that I have one and use it I wish I had it long ago. Sometimes you have to think outside the box. Now I look at my crib which is almost twice as large and I hate the giant space consumer. I don’t have to worry about my kids crawling out and falling to the floor either. Truly safer than than acrib IMHO.
Someone mention doa from smoke inhalation… But it’s only a little taller than my bed… Maybe a foot higher. Has air flow from below as well. I’m not a firefighter… And I found this thread fascinating with the tic and other tools to find victims that you use.
Thank you.
Do you guys still have stickers to show kids are in this room?
Por favor si me puedes informar cómo puedo conseguir las cunas dobles para bebés ahorra espacio. Gracias.
I just love this we have a place of safety for abandoned babies, they climbed out of the cot, sleigh cots get hurt. we do not have a lot of caregivers, to keep an eye on them when busy changing diapers, feeding and bathing babies. we would love to have this we are in SA