The Importance of Crib Safety

At Cypriana, we care about your child’s safety and well-being. Not only do we provide healthy alternatives to traditionally-manufactured baby products, but we feel that it is equally important to convey safety awareness to our customers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently published a new Crib Safety article:

Building Baby Safety from the Ground Up

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A warm bath, lullaby and bedtime stories are staples in your child's nighttime routine. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges parents and caregivers to add a safe sleep environment to the daily routine of placing baby to sleep.

CPSC staff is aware of 97 crib related deaths from 2002 through 2004.

A CPSC staff analysis (pdf) of reports of deaths related to cribs found that about half of the deaths were in cribs containing pillows, quilts and other bedding. About half of these were due to suffocation when infants ended up face down on pillows or face down in a crib with pillows, quilts and other bedding.

Thirty-percent of crib deaths were attributed to entrapment between components of old cribs that were in bad condition, with broken or missing parts or loose hardware, and entrapment in spaces generated between the sides of a crib and an ill fitted mattress. The remainder of the deaths were associated with accessories situated in/around the crib (such as window cords or curtain tie backs), falls out of cribs, alterations made to cribs, or entrapment when the child became wedged between the crib and other furniture or a wall.

As CPSC works to remove defective products from the marketplace, parents and caregivers are being asked to take action as well.

The CPSC is urging parents:

• To reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation, place baby to sleep on his or her back in a crib that meets current safety standards
• To prevent suffocation never use a pillow as a mattress for baby to sleep on or to prop baby's head or neck
• Infants can strangle to death if their bodies pass through gaps generated between loose components, broken slats and other parts of the crib and their head and neck become entrapped in the space.
o Do not use old, broken or modified cribs
o Regularly tighten hardware to keep sides firm
• Infants can suffocate in spaces generated between the sides of the crib and an ill fitted mattress; never allow a gap larger than two fingers at any point between the sides of the crib and the mattress
• Never place a crib near a window with blind or curtain cords; infants can strangle on curtain or blind cords.
• Properly set up play yards according to manufacturers' directions. Only use the mattress provided with the play yard. Do not add extra mattresses, pillows or cushions to the play yard, which can cause a suffocation hazard for infants.
• Routinely check nursery products against CPSC recall lists and remove recalled products from your home
• Sign-up for automatic e-mail recall notifications at www.cpsc.gov

The CPSC has been working since 1973 to improve crib safety with the publication of mandatory standards for full-size cribs and non-full size cribs. CPSC staff has also been involved in the development of voluntary standards for cribs addressing issues such as corner posts and structural and mechanical failures. The work of the CPSC has contributed to an 86% decrease in crib-related deaths.

Freshen Your Furniture with Custom Slipcovers

At Cypriana, we offer many choices for your decorating needs. One of our most popular services is our Custom Slipcovers, which are measured, pin fit, and installed using the European method to ensure a proper fit. We have over 40 years of sewing experience and are a trusted resource for your slipcover needs.

The many advantages of slipcovers:

- Refreshing way to redecorate without the exorbitant costs of buying new furniture

- Offered in a wide range of fabrics and styles: traditional, contemporary, formal, ruffled, tailored, or casual

- Measured in your home, preventing the expense and hassle of transporting furniture and loss of use during redecoration

- Custom décor can be changed for seasons or holidays as all slipcovers are removable via a hidden zipper

- Easy to wash and remove, making slipcovers a perfect solution for families with children or pets

- Coordinating pillows and draperies can be easily designed to match

- Environmentally-conscious as existing furniture can be updated and reused

Custom slipcovers are a wonderful way to easily redecorate your home. Call or stop by Cypriana for a consultation today!

Cypriana ~ the natural home store

The Beauty of Organics

Most of the clothing and fabric currently available for sale in the United States originate abroad. Free from the more stringent U.S. guidelines, these fabrics are often tainted with harmful chemicals during the cultivation or manufacturing processes. In conjunction with sustainability and eco-friendly issues, consumers are now beginning to seek organic fabrics.

The reasons for seeking organic materials are compelling, yet locating local sources of organic fabric is often difficult. At Cypriana, we carry an array of Certified Organic Cottons milled in the United States. These fabrics are soft, durable, and washable and come in natural colors woven into beautiful designs.

Let Cypriana be your source for organic and chemical-free fabrics!


Cypriana ~ the natural home store

Save 15% off your next Cypriana purchase!

At Cypriana, we understand how difficult our economy is on consumers right now. We can't fix the problem, of course, but we can help by offering our customers 15% off their next purchase, now through the end of February 2009.

Print off or mention this blog posting and get 15% off your next Cypriana purchase.


Cypriana ~ the natural home store

Running Wild's Dark Chocolate Bar Soap

What could be a more decadent and luxurious expression of love than chocolate? For this Valentine’s Day, give a unique chocolate gift: Dark Chocolate Bar Soap from Running Wild. Made in Washington with 72% raw cocoa butter and extra dark chocolate, this gentle soap has an incredibly rich, chocolaty smell and is extremely moisturizing, making it a perfect winter gift for dry skin.

Stop by Cypriana today to pamper your Valentine’s skin with the rich, sensuous and romantic Dark Chocolate Bar Soap.

Featuring vegan ingredients: Saponified, Calendulated Olive, Castor, Wheat Germ, Palm, Coconut, and Soybean Oils, Shea Butter, Benzoin Powder, Dark Chocolate, Cocoa Butter.


Cypriana ~ the natural home store