The Republicans last week blocked a final vote on the database and posted an alternative proposal on the agency’s Web site that would restrict who could register a complaint, among other things. The proposal was removed by the agency’s staff, then later restored.

Bob Adler, one of the commission’s three Democratic members, said opponents were trying to shield manufacturers from greater public scrutiny.

“Some folks are worried more about lost sales and not worried enough about lost souls,” Mr. Adler said. With Democrats outnumbering Republicans 3 to 2 on the board, the proposal is expected to pass.

As proposed, the database would go live at SaferProducts.gov in March. It would allow visitors to browse safety-related complaints about various products while giving manufacturers the ability to post replies and, if they can prove a complaint is inaccurate, have it removed. Parents, for instance, could scroll through the database before purchasing strollers, cribs or toys to see if others have reported problems with them.

Michele Witte, a Long Island woman, said such a database might have helped prevent the 1997 death of her 10-month-old son, Tyler, who became entrapped in a drop-side crib. Ms. Witte said she had purchased the crib because it was advertised as being safe; only after her son’s death did she learn that other children had died in drop-side cribs, too.