Baby Crib Recalls

Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards is recalling about 100 Mathew & Lauren collection cribs sold in Canada.

The mattress support system may dislodge resulting in a change in the side height. The change in side height poses a fall hazard for the child. Thus these cribs do not meet the requirements of the Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets Regulations in Canada.

The company says there are no reports of incidents or injuries.

This recall involves Mathew & Lauren collection cribs, identified by model 8700-700. The recalled product is a crib that can be converted into a double bed. The model number can be found on the product's packaging and on a label on the inside of the side panel.

The cribs, manufactured in Canada, were sold from January 2015, to November 2016.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should immediately stop using it and contact Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards to arrange for replacement fasteners for the mattress support system.

Consumers with questions may contact Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards at 1-888-661-8201, by email at sales@mhcfurniture.com or online at http://www.mhcfurniture.com/baby-furniture/.

Bexco Enterprises of Montebello, Calif., is expanding its earlier recall of DaVinci cribs.

The new recall adds 6,000 cribs to the 11,700 cribs recalled in July 2015.

A metal bracket that connects the mattress support to the crib can break, creating an uneven sleeping surface or a gap. If this occurs, a baby can become trapped in the crib, fall or suffer lacerations from the broken metal bracket.

The firm has received five additional reports of the mattress support brackets breaking and detaching, bringing the total to 15. No injuries have been reported.

The recall includes DaVinci brand full-size cribs including the Reagan crib (model #M2801), the Emily crib, (model #M4791), the Jamie crib (model #M7301), and the Jenny Lind crib (model #M7391) manufactured from May 2012 through December 2012.

The model number, serial number and manufacture date are printed on a label affixed to the bottom right hand side panel of the crib. Cribs included in the recall have serial numbers that begin with “N00,” followed by one of the following numbers. The previous recall included the same model numbers, but had different serial numbers.

The following cribs have been added to the recall:

The cribs, manufactured in China, were sold at Target and juvenile products stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com from May 2012 to December 2013 for between $150 and $250.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and contact Bexco for a free replacement mattress support which includes replacement brackets. In the meantime, parents are urged to find an alternate, safe sleeping environment for the child, such as a bassinet, play yard or toddler bed depending on the child’s age.

Consumers may contact DaVinci toll-free at 888-673-6652 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday. Consumers may also visit www.davincibaby.com/safetyrecall3 or www.davincibaby.com and click on “Safety Recall” for more information.

IKEA North America Services of Conshohocken, Pa., is recalling about 38,400 VYSSA SPELEVINK crib mattresses. These mattresses mattresses were previously recalled in January 2015 and again in May 2015 for entrapment hazards.)

The crib mattresses fail to meet the federal open flame standard for mattresses, posing a fire hazard.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

This recall involves IKEA VYSSA SPELEVINK crib mattresses. The recalled mattresses are 52 inches long and 27 1/2 inches wide. They are white with a blue piping around the edge and have an identification label attached to the mattress cover has the date of manufacture in Month-DD-YY format or YY-W format and the VYSSA SPELEVINK model name. Mattresses made after July 2007 also have a federal tag at the foot of the mattress.

The mattresses, manufactured in Mexico, were sold exclusively at IKEA stores nationwide and online at www.ikea-usa.com from October 2000, through May 2014, for about $100.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled crib mattresses and return them to any IKEA store for a full refund. Mattresses that were given in an exchange to consumers for their VYSSA SPELEVINK mattresses in the two previous recalls are included in this recall program.

Consumers may contact IKEA toll-free at 888-966-4532 anytime or online at www.ikea-usa.com and click on the recall link at the top of the page for more information.

Stork Craft Manufacturing USA of Las Vegas, Nev., is recalling about 18,500 foam crib mattresses.

The mattresses fail to meet the mandatory federal mattress flammability standard for open flames, posing a fire hazard.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Stork Craft foam crib and crib/toddler mattresses with model numbers 06710-100 and 06710-200 and a date of manufacture between August 2014, and January 2015. The mattresses have a zippered white fabric cover and measure about 28 inches wide, 52 inches long and have a 5 inch thick foam core.

The model number, date of manufacture and “Stork Craft Manufacturing (USA) Inc.” are printed on white federal label attached to the white mattress cover. The mattresses’ box has a Graco logo.

The mattresses, manufactured in China, were sold at Walmart stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, EChannel.com, ToysRUs.com, Walmart.com and Wayfair.com from August 2014, through April 2015, for between $38 and $50.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled crib mattresses and contact Stork Craft for a free, zippered mattress barrier cover to be placed over the mattress foam core and under the white mattress cover provided with the mattress.

Consumers may contact Stork Craft at (800) 274-0277 Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. (PT), by email at parts@storkcraft.com, or online at http://storkcraftdirect.com and click on Product Recall near the bottom of the page for more information.

Bexco Enterprises of Montebello, Calif., is recalling about 11,700 DaVinci cribs in the U.S and Canada.

A metal bracket that connects the mattress support to the crib can break, creating an uneven sleeping surface or a gap. If this occurs, a baby can become trapped in the crib, fall or suffer lacerations from the broken metal bracket.

The firm has received 10 reports of the mattress support brackets detaching. No injuries have been reported.

The recall includes DaVinci brand full-size cribs including the Reagan crib (model #M2801), the Emily crib, (model #M4791), the Jamie crib (model #M7301), and the Jenny Lind crib (model #M7391) manufactured from May 2012 through December 2012.

The model number, serial number and manufacture date are printed on a label affixed to the bottom right hand side panel of the crib.

Cribs included in the recall have serial numbers that begin with “N00,” followed by one of the following numbers:

The cribs, manufactured in China, were sold at Target and juvenile products stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com from May 2012, to December 2013, for between $150 and $250.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and contact Bexco for a free replacement mattress support which includes replacement brackets. In the meantime, parents are urged to find an alternate, safe sleeping environment for the child, such as a bassinet, play yard or toddler bed depending on the child’s age.

Consumers may contact Bexco toll-free at (888) 673-6652 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday. 

Baby’s Dream Furniture of Buena Vista, Ga., is recalling about 4,600 cribs and furniture pieces.

The vintage grey paint on the cribs, furniture, and accessories exceeds federal lead limits. If ingested, lead can cause adverse health effects.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Baby’s Dream full-size cribs, furniture and accessories sold in a vintage grey paint finish under the Brie, Braxton, Heritage, Everything Nice and Legendary collections. Cribs and furniture included in this recall were manufactured between March 2014 and March 2015.

A label affixed to the bottom of the crib’s back frame and the back panel of the furniture lists the product name, date and location of manufacture, model number and purchase order number (PO#).

The following model numbers are included in the recall:

The cribs and furniture, manufactured in Chile, were sold at specialty furniture stores nationwide and online at BabysDream.com from March 2014, through March 2015, for between $350 and $900 for the cribs, and between $450 and $1,000 for the dressers, hutches, nightstands, bookcases and chests. Additional accessories were sold for between $100 and $300.

Consumers should immediately contact Baby’s Dream to arrange for an exchange at (800) 835-2742 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

IKEA North America Services of Conshohocken, Pa., is expanding an earlier recall of crib mattresses.

About 344,000 mattresses are being recalled in the U.S. and Canada. About 169,000 VYSSA crib mattresses and about 175,000 SULTAN crib mattresses were recalled in the U.S. and Canada in January 2015.

The mattresses could create a gap between the mattress and crib ends larger than allowed by federal regulations, posing an entrapment hazard to infants.

The firm has received 2 reports of infants becoming entrapped between the mattress and an end of the crib. The children were removed from the gap without injury.

This recall involves IKEA SULTAN and VYSSA crib mattresses with the following model names:

• SULTAN BLUNDA
• SULTAN DROMMA
• SULTAN SNARKA
• SULTAN SUSSA
• VYSSA VACKERT
• VYSSA VINKA
• VYSSA SPELEVINK
• VYSSA SLOA and
• VYSSA SLUMMER.

The recalled mattresses are 52 inches long and 27 ½ inches wide and were manufactured on May 4, 2014 or earlier. An identification label attached to the mattress cover has the date of manufacture in Month-DD-YY format or YY-WW format and the SULTAN or VYSSA model name. In the YY-WW format, mattresses with a date code of 14-18 or earlier are being recalled.

A gap between the mattress and crib ends larger than two finger width is an indication of the defective mattress.

The mattresses, manufactured in Mexico, Poland, China and the U.S., were sold exclusively at IKEA stores nationwide and online at www.ikea-usa.com from October 2000 to May 2014, for about $20 to $100.

Consumers should immediately stop using a recalled mattress and inspect it by making sure there is no gap larger than the width of two fingers between the ends of the crib and the mattress. If any gap is larger, customers should immediately stop using the recalled mattresses and return it to any IKEA store for an exchange or a full refund.

Consumers may contact IKEA toll-free at (888) 966-4532 anytime.

IKEA North America Services of Conshohocken, Pa., is recalling about 169,000 VYSSA crib mattress.

The crib mattresses could create a gap between the mattress and crib ends larger than allowed by federal regulations, posing an entrapment hazard to infants.

The firm has received two reports of infants becoming trapped between the mattress and an end of the crib. They were removed from the gap without injury.

This recall involves IKEA VYSSA style crib mattresses with the following five model names: VACKERT, VINKA, SPELEVINK, SLÖA and SLUMMER. The involved mattresses were manufactured on May 4, 2014 or earlier.

An identification label attached to the mattress cover has the date of manufacture in Month-DD-YYYY format and the VYSSA model name. A gap between the mattress and crib ends larger than two finger width is an indication of the defective mattress.

The mattresses, manufactured in Mexico, were sold exclusively at IKEA stores nationwide and online at www.ikea-usa.com from August 2010, to May 2014, for about $100.

Consumers should inspect the recalled mattress by making sure there is no gap larger than the width of two fingers between the ends of the crib and the mattress. If any gap is larger, customers should immediately stop using the recalled mattress and return it to any IKEA store for an exchange or a full refund.

Consumers may contact IKEA toll-free at (888) 966-4532 anytime.

Bexco Enterprises of Montebello, Calif., is recalling about 1,100 Franklin & Ben Mason 4-in-1 Convertible Cribs in the U.S. and Canada.

The crib front can separate from the side panels and create a hazardous gap that can allow a child to fall out or become entrapped between the front and side panels.

The firm has received 14 reports of the front separating from the side panels of the crib. No injuries have been reported.

This recall includes Franklin & Ben Mason style 4-in-1 style cribs model number 5601 that were manufactured from January 2012 through August 2012. The model number and the date of manufacture are printed on a label on the inside of a side panel of the crib.

Listed on the label as a “serial number,” the following purchase order numbers are included in the recall: H004522, H004546, H004548 or H004777.

The cribs have solid wood sideboards and wood rails on the front and back of the crib in varying heights and can convert to a daybed, toddler bed or full-sized bed. There is a storage drawer at the base of the crib with two metal knobs. The recalled cribs were sold in weathered gray and rustic brown, and measure 57 inches long by 33 inches wide by 51 inches high.

The cribs, manufactured in Taiwan, were sold at juvenile products specialty retailers nationwide from January 2012 through June 2014 for between $600 and $700.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and contact the firm for a free repair kit. In the meantime, parents are urged to find an alternate, safe sleeping environment for the child, such as a bassinet, play yard or toddler bed depending on the child’s age.

Consumers may Contact Franklin & Ben, a division of Bexco, toll-free at (888) 673-6652 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

Oeuf LLC of Brooklyn, N.Y., is recalling about 14,000 Sparrow Cribs.

The slats/spindles and top rail can detach from the cribs and pose an entrapment hazard to a child.

The company has received four reports of the slats/spindles and the top rail detaching from the crib. No injuries were reported.

The recall includes four models of Oeuf Sparrow cribs sold in birch, grey, walnut and white. The recalled cribs were manufactured between July 2007, and January 2014, and have one of the following model numbers: 1SPCR, 2SPCR, 4SPCR or 5SPCR.

The manufacture date, in the MM-YYYY format, and the model number are located on the warning label attached to the crib's mattress support.

The cribs, manufactured in Latvia, were sold at independent juvenile specialty stores nationwide and online for about $800.

Consumers should immediately stop using the cribs and contact Oeuf to receive a free repair kit.

Consumers may contact Oeuf toll-free at (844) 653-8527 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Dream on Me of South Plainfield, N.J., is recalling about 700 Lullaby Cradle Gliders

The mattress support board can fall out or slide out of the bottom of the cradle glider posing a risk that babies can fall out and suffer injuries.

There have been reports of two incidents while infants were asleep inside the cradle. A one-month old infant fell to the floor when the mattress support board partially fell out, but the child was uninjured. A second report involved a four-month old infant who did not fall out of the cradle after the mattress support board became partially disengaged.

This recall involves the Lullaby Cradle Glider manufactured by Dream On Me Inc. The cradle is made of solid pine with slats on all four sides and a base that has a gliding side-to-side motion. The inner dimensions of the cradle measure 34.5 inches by 20.5 inches and includes a mattress pad and four wheels for easy movement. The cradle is sold in one design, four colors 640-C, cherry; 640-W,white; 640-E, espresso; and 640-N, natural. A label identifying the date of manufacture as October 2011 is located on the mattress support board.

The crade gliders, manufactured in China, were sold online only through K-Mart, Kohl’s, Sears, Toys R Us and Walmart from October 2011, through June 2013, for about $130.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cradles and contact Dream On Me to obtain a free repair kit. Instructions for assembly will be included in the repair kit.

Consumers may contact Dream On Me toll-free at (877) 201-4312 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.

Nan Far Woodworking is recalling about 3,900 Rockland Furniture round cribs.

The crib’s drop-side rails can malfunction, detach or otherwise fail. When this happens, the drop-side rail can fall out of position and create a space where an infant or toddler can become wedged or entrapped, posing a risk of strangulation or suffocation. A child can also fall out of the crib. In addition, drop-side related incidents can also occur due to incorrect assembly and with age-related wear and tear.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Rockland Furniture round cribs with model number 343-8314. The model number is printed on a label located on the inner-lower portion of the crib rail. The cribs are 44 ½ inches in diameter and were sold in white, ebony and cherry finishes.

The cribs, manufactured in Taiwan, were sold exclusively at J.C. Penney stores and online at jcpenney.com from January 2005, to December 2008, for about $400.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and contact Rockland Furniture for a free repair kit that will immobilize the drop-side rail. Until the crib is repaired, consumers should find an alternate, safe sleep environment for the child such as a bassinet, play yard or toddler bed, depending on the child’s age.

Consumers may contact Rockland Furniture toll-free at (877) 967-5770 anytime.

When a product is recalled for reasons of safety, consumers  assume that they will be offered a repair or replacement, but that's often not the case, as some purchasers of Jardine cribs have learned.

Federal safety officials say their primary goal is to get dangerous products out of consumers' homes and, secondarily, to negotiate the best financial deal they can.

Jardine recalled about 320,000 cribs several years ago because they were unsafe. It later added another 96,000 cribs to the recall list. The company and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said the wooden crib slates and spindles could break, creating a gap where baby's head or neck could get stuck. There have been several similar recalls in recent years.

The first recall notice from the company said:  "Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and contact Jardine to receive a full credit toward the purchase of a new crib." A later version of the recall press release said only that consumers would "receive a credit."

"Full credit"

Consumers who read the recall notice thought, understandably, that "full credit" meant they would get a credit that would cover the purchase of a new crib, but it didn't turn out that way for some customers. 

"We did the best we could for consumers," said Patty Davis, spokeswoman for the CPSC. The agency negotiated a sliding scale that provided a new crib for consumers whose crib was three to five years old.

The $65 credit was for cribs that were five to ten years old. There is no credit for cribs older than ten years. But Davis said the most important thing to focus on is the urgent need to get recalled cribs out of homes, and to dispose of them so they don't turn up at yard sales or in second-hand stores.

"We don't recommend you use a crib older than ten years. The bottom line is that consumers need to get these old and recalled cribs out of their homes and get a new crib that meets current safety standards no matter what," Davis said.

"The No. 1 priority is to keep your kids safe," she told ConsumerAffairs. "Consumers are not necessarily made whole in every single recall." By law, the CPSC must negotiate the terms of each recall with the manufacturer and does not have the power to arbitrarily impose a settlement in most cases.  

Didn't come close

This doesn't sit well with some consumers posting to ConsumerAffairs, who noted that the cribs, which were sold at Babies R Us, Toys R Us and other retailers, cost between $150 and $450, while the credits offered to customers with older cribs didn't come close to covering the original purchase price.

"We were not offered a repair kit or told what the refund process would be until we destroyed our crib and sent them the supports and a part we needed to cut out of the end structure. We received a $65 credit to purchase one of their crib that didn't match the baby's room (no options at all)," said Joseph of Oxford, Mass. "When we contacted them again we were told they are going by policy and we would not be offered anything else."

Perla of Chula Vista, Calif., figures she's out more than $400.

"When I purchased my crib I bought it for about $500. I just got my voucher today and they gave me a grand total of $65 -- really! $65 for a $500 dollar crib which was still in great condition."

"I am glad the death trap is out of my house and I'm thankful that nothing happened to my baby's but I hate how they just ripped me off!" Perla said.

Doesn't do the job

Many cribs produced before new safety standards went into effect in 2011 have had multiple safety problems but Nancy Cowles, executive director of the Chicago-based advocacy group Kids In Danger, says the Jardine cribs "stand alone" when it comes to lacking in basic safety standards.

"The slats were so flimsy that even the toddler in the crib was able to break them, which is obviously not going to do the job," she told ConsumerAffairs. "A crib needs to be strong enough so that parents can safely leave the child alone."

Cowles said that such poorly-handled recalls make an already unsafe situation worse.

"It's a big concern of ours, because when a recall is ineffective, parents are likely to continue using the cribs," leaving children exposed to the dangerous condition that sparked the recall, Cowles said. 

"Worst company ever"

"Our baby crib was recalled and we were supposed to get a voucher for the crib value at the cost spent and we were supposed to be able to use the voucher at Babies R Us." But that didn't happen," said Kristen of Norcross, Ga. 

"After waiting months and months for the company to be responsive, they made us cut a wooden portion of the crib with a saw and send it in as proof we owned the crib. ... We met all of these outrageous demands --  for what? A $65 voucher. Worst company ever!"

Say what?

Who is Jardine, exactly? Well, it's not easy to answer that. Finding their corporate website is an adventure in itself. It's jardco.com, if you're wondering. 

But having found the site doesn't get you very far because none of the links on the home page work. In fact, they're not even links.  "About Us," for example, isn't a link to another page, it's just part of an image. There are no working links at all on the page.

Toys 'R' Us no longer carries the brand in its stores and says it has received only a few inquiries about the recalls in recent years. 

"As you know, recalls of Jardine cribs were announced in 2008 and 2009.  At that time, a system was put in place to allow those impacted by this recall to receive a voucher to purchase a new crib from any brand/manufacturer from one of our stores," said Katie Reczek of Toys 'R' Us. "This system was in place for some time, and in 2011, transitioned to a system by which Jardine would provide a replacement crib directly to consumers."

Problems continue

Although it started in 2008, the series of safety crises and lethargic  responses involving Jardine cribs shows no signs of abating.

Teresa of Brunswick, Ohio, managed to survive one Jardine recall and is now having the exact same safety problems with the replacement crib, but is getting no assistance from the company, she said.

"I purchased a Jardine crib in 2008 after the first one purchased through them was recalled. My original voucher did not cover the cost of a new crib, but we paid the difference," she said. "A slat on the new crib recently developed a deep crack that pinched my daughter's fingers and we noticed that many of the slats are now cracked as is the top slat of the crib."

Teresa was puzzled that she had not been notified about subsequent recalls, since she had registered her crib with Jardine.

"The reason seems to be that ours was made a month after the recall stopped, yet is having the exact same issues! I am furious and horrified that they would continue to risk children's lives without any consequences. They refuse to replace my crib even though the issues are obviously continuing."

PT Domusindo Perdana is recalling about 73,000 drop-side cribs.

The cribs' drop sides can malfunction, detach or otherwise fail, causing part of the drop side to fall out of position, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged or entrapped, which can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A child can also fall out of the crib. Drop-side incidents can also occur due to incorrect assembly and with age-related wear and tear.

The CPSC and the firm are aware of three incidents involving drop side rails that malfunctioned or detached. No injuries were reported.

This recall includes 14 models of PT Domusindo Perdana wooden drop-side cribs:

Model #                            Description                                     Date Code

343-1509                          Jenny Lind Crib                            01/1991-12/1997151

343-3810                         Christopher Crib                           2001151

343-5500                        Early American Crib                     01/1998-12/1999151

343-6771                         Scottsdale Crib                               01/1998/12/1999151

343-7100                        Sleigh Crib without Rosette        01/2004-12/2006

343-7134                        Sleigh Crib                                        01/2001-2/2004

343-7144                       Anniversary Sleigh Crib                01/2002-12/2004

343-7753                       Kristin Crib                                       01/1998-12/1999

343-8249                     Cameron Crib                                    01/1998/12/1999

343-8020                     Solid Panel Sleigh Crib                   01/2001-12/2002

343-8070                      Roll Bar Convertible Crib              01/2004-12/2005

343-8155                       Anniversary Convertible

                                         Sleigh Crib                                         01/2002-12/2006

343-8200                     Spindle Convertible Crib               01/2001-12/2005

343-8913                      Bella 3-in-1 Crib                               01/2005-12/2008

The name, model number and date codes are printed on the plywood mattress board.

The cribs, manufactured in Indonesia, were sold at JCPenney.com and the JCPenney catalog from January 1998 through December 2008 for between $200 and $400.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and contact customer service at Modus Furniture International to get a free immobilizer kit that will immobilize the drop side. The immobilizer kits will be available in May 2013. In the meantime, parents are encouraged to find an alternate, safe sleep environment for the child, such as a bassinet, play yard or toddler bed depending on your child's age.

Consumers may contact Modus Furniture International at (800) 827-2129 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

Setting aside objections from retailers and manufacturers, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is implementing new safety standards for baby cribs later this month.

Effective June 28, anyone who manufactures or sells cribs will be required to meet the new standards, although day care centers, crib rental companies and hotels will have until December 28, 2012 to update their cribs.

“I am very pleased that the new mandatory crib standards will stop the manufacture and sale of dangerous traditional drop-side cribs and will vastly improve the structural integrity of cribs,” said CPSC chair Inez M. Tenenbaum, noting that crib safety standards have not been updated in nearly 30 years.

Detaching drop-side rails were associated with at least 32 infant suffocation and strangulation deaths since 2000, according to the CPSC. Additional deaths have occurred due to faulty or defective hardware.

Manufacturers and retailers had objected that the new rules would cause an economic hardship, particularly on smaller stores but the commission voted 3-2 to impose the new standards on schedule.

The new standards will:

1. stop the manufacture and sale of dangerous, traditional drop-side cribs;

2. make mattress supports stronger;

3. improve slat strength,

4. make crib hardware more durable; and

5. make safety testing more rigorous.

The standards aim to keep children safer in their cribs and prevent deaths resulting from detaching crib drop-sides and faulty or defective hardware. The tougher standards were mandated by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.

Tenenbaum said the commission granted the delays to child care centers, crib rental stores and hotels and motels were necessary not only to minimize the economic impact but also to prevent shortages of new cribs. She estimated that replacing all of the cribs already in use at such locations would create a demand of approximately 935,000 cribs, which would amount to nearly $467 million in replacement costs.

“In order to ensure sufficient availability of compliant cribs and ensure an orderly and successful transition to the use of complaint cribs by child care providers and places of public accommodation, the Commission adopted a two-step phase in of the rule,” Tenenbaum said.

Retailers unhappy

Any cribs not meeting the current standard must be destroyed if they’re not sold by June 28. Industry estimates put the number of unsold cribs between 10,000 and 20,000. Some retailers, hoping to clear out their stock, have offered steep discounts to consumers.

“Overregulation is going to lead to the destroying of thousands of cribs that are perfectly good — many that are better than what will come out after the new regulations,” Gene Francis, a South Dakota-based retailer and member of the National Independent Nursery Furniture Retailers Association, told Kids Today.

But Commissioner Thomas Moore showed little sympathy for that argument.

"We expect companies to comply with the Commission’s rules," he said. "It appears that the vast majority of retailers did plan and are ready to comply by the June 28th date.  In a rule of this magnitude, it is expected that there will be 
some market disruption and that some companies will experience economic loss."

Moore said it was impractical to ask the CPSC to allow retailers to continue selling cribs that do not meet the new standard.

"There is little that we know about the noncomplying cribs these retailers want to sell or about the reasons the retailers find themselves with noncompliant inventory.  However, there is much that we don’t know.  When were these cribs made?  Who made them and where?  Who tested them and when?  What standard were they tested to?  When were they ordered?  Did the quantity ordered take into account the looming effective date of the new crib standards?"

"Were retailers buying imported noncomplying cribs at fire sale prices to try to make a profit before they had to start buying more expensive cribs that met the new standards?" Moore asked.  "Will retrofit kits be available to bring the cribs into compliance?  We simply do not know."

ducduc llc is recalling about 330 fixed-side cribs. The bottom rails on the crib sides can separate from the sides when the mattress is in the lowest position, causing the spindles to separate and the mattress to drop. This poses fall and entrapment hazards for young children.

The manufacturer has received five reports of separated rails. No injuries were reported.

This recall includes ducduc fixed-side cribs with the model names and item codes ending in 2009, 2010 and 2011 listed below. The name"ducduc" and the item code can be found on a label located on the mattress panel.

The cribs were sold at the ducduc New York showroom, online at www.ducducnyc.com, at specialty stores and through interior designers nationwide from January 2009 through February 2011 for between $1,500 and $1,800. They were made in the United States.

Consumers should stop using these cribs immediately if the mattress is in the lowest position. Consumers should contact ducduc, if the company has not already contacted them, for a free repair kit which includes new crib sides. Ducduc is contacting each customer directly. In the meantime, parents are urged to find an alternate, safe sleeping environment for their child, such as a play yard, bassinet or toddler bed, depending on the child's age.

For additional information, contact ducduc at (212) 226-1868 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, or visit the firm's website at www.ducducnyc.com

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is repeating the 2008 recall of more than 985,000 drop-side cribs with "Crib Trigger Lock and Safety Peg" hardware.

In January 2011, CPSC and Delta Enterprise Corp., the crib's manufacturer, learned of a 2009 death in which a 7-month-old girl from Colorado Springs, Colo., became entrapped and suffocated between the detached drop-side and mattress of her recalled crib. The crib was purchased secondhand and re-assembled without safety pegs in the bottom tracks.

Missing safety pegs can create a situation where the crib's drop-side rail disengages from the track. This can create a hazardous space in which an infant can become entrapped and suffocate.

At the time of the October 2008 recall, CPSC notified consumers about the death of an 8-month-old girl who became entrapped and suffocated when the drop side of the crib detached. The crib involved in this incident also was re-assembled without safety pegs. At the time of the October 2008 recall announcement, there were reports of two entrapments and nine detachments in cribs without safety pegs.

"Buying or accepting cribs second hand can be risky," said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Second hand cribs may not come with all of the necessary parts that are needed to make sure your baby is safe. We urge parents and caregivers to use caution and to be aware that new rules established by CPSC will bring safer cribs to the market this summer."

The repeated recall involves cribs that were made in Taiwan and Indonesia. The cribs were sold at major retail stores including Kmart, Target and Walmart between January 1995 and December 2005 (through September 2007 for model 4624) for about $100.

Delta's name and address is printed on the mattress support boards and the Delta logo is on the crib's top teether rail. Model numbers are located on the top of the mattress support board. This announcement includes the following 49 crib models with "Crib Trigger Lock with Safety Peg" drop-side hardware:

• 4320, 4340;
• 4500, 4520, 4530, 4532, 4540, 4542, 4550, 4551, 4580;
• 4600, 4620, 4624 - production dates 01/06 thru 11/07, 4640, 4660, 4720, 4735, 4742, 4750 - production dates 01/95 thru 12/00;
• 4760, 4770, 4780, 4790;
• 4820, 4840, 4850, 4860, 4880, 4890, 4892; and
• 4900, 4910, 4920, 4925-2, 4925-6, 4930, 4940, 4943, 4944, 4947, 4948, 4949, 4950, 4958, 4963, 4968, 4969, 4980.

CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using cribs that are missing a safety peg on either leg of the drop side and contact Delta to receive a free, easy-to-install repair kit. Call Delta toll-free at (800) 816-5304 anytime or visit the firm's website at www.cribrecallcenter.com to order the free repair kit.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to find a safe, alternative sleep environment for their child until the repair kit, with new safety pegs, is safely installed on the recalled cribs.

CPSC reminds parents not to use any crib with missing, broken or loose parts. Make sure to tighten hardware from time to time to keep the crib sturdy. When using a drop-side crib, parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly. Always check all sides and corners of the crib for parts separating that can create a gap and entrap a child.

In addition, do not try to repair any side of the crib. Babies have died in cribs where repairs were attempted by caregivers. Crib age is a factor in safety. At a minimum, CPSC staff recommends that you do not use a crib that is older than 10 years old. New, mandatory federal crib rules take effect on June 28, 2011. All cribs manufactured and sold after that date must meet new and improved safety requirements. Older cribs do not meet the new standard and can have a variety of safety problems.

When the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a ban drop-side cribs in December 2010, after millions of these products had been recalled, many parents and caregivers of small children began to question the safety of cribs, playpens and bassinets.

A new study conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital examined injuries associated with cribs, playpens and bassinets among children younger than two years of age from 1990 through 2008.

What the found might upset even the most experienced parents.

During the 19-year study period, an average of 9,500 injuries and more than 100 deaths related to these products were seen in U.S. emergency departments each year.

According to the study, the majority of injuries – 83 percent -- involved cribs. The most common injury diagnosis was soft-tissue injury (34 percent), followed by concussion or head injury (21 percent).

The head or neck was the most frequently injured body region (40 percent), followed by the face (28 percent).

Two-thirds of the injuries were the result of a fall, and the percentage of injuries attributed to falls increased with age.

“Despite the attention given to crib safety over the past two decades, the number of injuries and deaths associated with these products remains unacceptably high,” said Dr. Gary Smith, MD, senior author of the study and director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy.

Smith, also a Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, said cribs, playpens and bassinets must be held to a higher standard than most baby products, which require parental supervision to maintain safety, because parents are expected to leave their child unattended in them and walk away with peace of mind.

“Educating caregivers about the proper use and potential dangers of these products is an important part of making cribs safer for children, but education alone is not enough,” said Smith. “Innovations in product design and manufacture can provide automatic protection that does not rely on actions of caregivers to keep children safe.”

In recent years, organizations such as the CPSC and the American Academy of Pediatrics have amplified their efforts to increase crib safety.

11 million recalls

The CPSC has issued recalls of more than 11 million cribs and has prohibited the manufacture, sale or lease of drop-side cribs starting in June 2011.

Continued strengthening and enforcement of crib safety standards will protect more young children from harm.

Despite the potential risks, cribs are still considered to be the safest location where parents can place infants to sleep. There are several steps parents and caregivers should take when selecting a crib for their child:

Pay close attention to the crib you select.

• Select a crib that meets all current safety standards, does not have a drop side and is not old, broken or modified.
• Avoid cribs with cutouts or decorative corner posts or knobs that stick up more than 1/16th of an inch
• Measure the slats to make sure they are not more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart
• Visit Recalls.gov to make sure the crib has not been recalled
• Make sure the mattress fits tightly into the crib. If you can fit more than two fingers between the mattress and the crib, you need a bigger mattress
• Frequently examine the crib to make sure it is in good repair and that there are no loose parts
• Carefully read and follow all assembly instructions

When putting your child in a crib to sleep, consider the following:

• Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep
• Remember that a bare crib is best. Do not add pillows, blankets, sleep positioners, stuffed animals or bumpers to the crib
• Crib tents and mesh canopies are not safe to use over cribs. Children can become trapped or strangle in them if they try to get out
• Avoid placing the crib near a window to prevent falls and possible strangulation from cords from window blinds or shades

Monitor your child's developmental milestones and make changes to the crib as needed.

• Once your child can push up on his hands and knees or is 5 months old (whichever occurs first), remove all mobiles and hanging toys
• When your child can pull herself up or stand, adjust the mattress to the lowest position. Having the crib sides at least 26 inches above the mattress can help prevent falls
• Check the manufacturer's instructions to know when your child will outgrow the crib. This generally occurs when your child reaches 35 inches in height

If using a bassinet or playpen, make sure they have a sturdy, wide base and that your child meets all height and weight limits.

Smith’s study will be released online on February 21 will appear in the March 2011 print issue of Pediatrics.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers that "SafetyCraft" brand full-size and portable drop-side cribs manufactured or distributed by Generation 2 Worldwide contain drop-side hardware that appears to be identical to Generation 2 Worldwide ChildESIGNS brand drop-side cribs recalled in February 2010.

This hardware found on SafetyCraft drop-side cribs can fail and place infants and toddlers at risk of strangulation and suffocation. CPSC staff urges parents and caregivers to stop using these cribs immediately and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Do not attempt to fix these cribs.

Ownership change

Generation 2 Worldwide ceased operations in 2005. The "SafetyCraft" trademark was then purchased by Foundations Children's Products of Medina, OH. SafetyCraft cribs manufactured and sold by Foundations Children's Products are NOT the subject of this safety alert. Consumers can identify the Foundations SafetyCraft crib with "Foundations" printed on the mattress support assembly instructions label under the crib mattress.

Because Generation 2 Worldwide ceased operations, CPSC has limited information about these cribs and where they were sold. CPSC has been unable to identify major retailers that sold these cribs.

Identifying products

The name "SafetyCraft" appears on a label affixed to the crib's headboard or footboard. Product labels may identify the place of manufacture as Indonesia or Dothan, Alabama.

This warning involves all SafetyCraft drop-side cribs, including model 92-8112, manufactured and/or sold by Generation 2Worldwide. Some of the cribs have a clear plastic headboard and footboard. These cribs are in use in child care facilities as well as homes.

Danger to children

The crib's plastic drop-side hardware can break, which can cause the drop side of the crib to detach from a corner of the crib. When the drop side detaches, it creates a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged or entrapped.

When a child is trapped between the drop side and the crib mattress, it creates a risk of suffocation or strangulation. In addition, the crib's mattress support can detach from the crib frame, creating a hazardous space in which an infant or toddler can become entrapped and suffocate or strangle.

CPSC received reports of three infant suffocation deaths and 20 drop side-related incidents involving previously recalled models of Generation 2 Worldwide and ChildESIGNS cribs with plastic hardware similar to "SafetyCraft" cribs.

Parent advice

CPSC reminds parents not to use any crib with missing, broken, or loose parts. Make sure to tighten hardware from time to time to keep the crib sturdy. When using a drop-side crib, parents should check to make sure the drop-side or any other moving part operates smoothly.

Always check all sides and corners of the crib for disengagement. Any disengagement can create a gap and entrap a child. In addition, do not try to repair any side of the crib, especially with tape, wire or rope.

Incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product can be made here.

Crib bumpers, the pillow-like lining used to separate the sides of the crib with an infant’s head, may be one step closer to extinction due to beefed up safety guidelines by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

While the CPSC doesn't specifically discourage use of bumpers, it does recommend keeping all extraneous items out of cribs like stuffed animals, pillows and heavy quilts.

Plus, whether it was intended or not, bumpers are nowhere to be seen among the examples of safe cribs featured in the commission’s informational video online.

Crib bumper safety

The safety of crib bumpers has been a hotly debated topic over the last decade. Consumer advocacy groups and children’s safety organizations believe bumpers can cause suffocation, strangulation, or contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).  However, the government has been slow to take a stand on the controversial crib accessory.

Still, the commission is not ignoring the subject of safe sleep areas for infants and young toddlers.

In December 2010, it unanimously approved new, stricter safety standards for all cribs; standards that had not been updated in thirty years.

Under the new guidelines, crib manufacturers must ensure mattress supports are stronger, the crib hardware is more durable, and the safety testing of their products is more rigorous.

The commission’s standards also stop the manufacture and sale of traditional drop-side cribs, which they warned parents about in May, 2010 and issued almost a dozen recalls for since 2005.

According to the commission, over seven million drop-side cribs were included in the recalls due to suffocation and strangulation hazards created by the drop side.

While these are steps in a positive direction, when (or if) the commission will address the possible safety hazards of crib bumpers is anyone’s guess.

Bumper ban

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has been calling for the end of crib bumpers since December 2010.

Last month, she urged the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), the national industry trade group overseeing manufacturers of crib bumpers, to release the results of a study it conducted on the safety of bumpers.  As of mid-January 2011, the results have yet to be released.

Madigan continues to warn parents and care-givers of the potentially fatal risk of using crib bumpers.

Along with discouraging keeping bulky items out of cribs, the CPSC’s safety guidelines included other important tips to keep babies and young toddlers safe while they sleep:

• To prevent suffocation, never place pillows or thick quilts in a baby's sleep environment. Also, make sure there are no gaps larger than two fingers between the sides of the crib and the mattress.
• Proper assembly of cribs is paramount - Follow the instructions provided and make sure that every part is installed correctly. If you are not sure, call the manufacturer for assistance.
• Do not use cribs older than 10 years or broken or modified cribs. Infants can strangle to death if their bodies pass through gaps between loose components or broken slats while their heads remain entrapped.
• Set up play yards properly according to manufacturers' directions. Only use the mattress pad provided with the play yard; do not add extra padding.
• Never place a crib near a window with blind, curtain cords or baby monitor cords; babies can strangle on cords.

The commission also has resources for parents and care-givers to see if their child’s crib has been included in any of the recalls.

Last month, Attorney General Lisa Madigan issued a warning to parents and caregivers of infants and small children about crib bumpers. The pillow-like lining used to keep baby’s head away from the sides of the crib can pose serious risks of injury and death due to suffocation or strangulation.

On Wednesday, Madigan called on the national industry trade group overseeing manufacturers of crib bumpers, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), to push for a halt to the production and sale of bumper pads across the country.

Danger posed

Madigan said babies could be hurt or killed by their crib bumpers in any number of ways: rolling against it, pressing their faces against it, wedging their heads between the pad and the mattress or crib side, or getting the tie that secures the bumper to the crib wrapped around their necks.

“The JPMA and its manufacturers cannot sit by and wait for regulators to decide how, and if, crib bumpers should be used,” Madigan said. “Their disregard for the danger posed by these products creates a very real danger.”

Back in December, the Attorney General alerted parents and caregivers to the hazards bumpers pose and urged them to remove these products from their homes to prevent tragedy.

She also sent a letter to the JPMA urging the group to take immediate action to address bumper hazards with its manufacturer members.

Madigan demanded then that the JPMA release results of a study it commissioned to investigate the dangers of crib bumpers.

The study has yet to be published as the JPMA internally reviews the report.

Production halt demanded

As a result of JPMA’s inaction, the AG is calling on the group to halt production and sale of bumpers while the Consumer Product Safety Commission analyzes the products’ appropriate use, if any at all.

According to Madigan, the JPMA has failed to appropriately respond in light of these deaths.

“One infant death due to bumper pad use is too many. We must act now to remove bumpers from store shelves, stop production and work to educate caregivers to this threat,” Madigan said.

Since 2008, the National Center for Child Death Review has received reports of 14 infants who have died from suffocation caused by crib bumpers.

Mobilizing

Last month, Madigan partnered with the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Kids in Danger, the American SIDS Institute, SIDS of Illinois and the Canadian Health Department to alert caregivers to this danger.

Madigan urged parents and caregivers to take the time to review her Rest Assured Guide to determine whether they have other dangerous children’s items that have been recalled in their homes.

The  guide provides information to consumers about cribs or other sleep-related items for children from 2007 to date. To obtain a copy of the guide, call the Attorney General’s Product Recall Hotline at 1-888-414-7678 (TTY: 1-800-964-3013).

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who last week praised a new federal ban on drop side cribs, is now warning parents and caregivers about bumper pads -- the soft pillow-like objects used along side of cribs.

Madigan said immediate action is necessary in light of the number of infant deaths and injuries attributed to the pads.

The attorney general said she issued the warning to alert caregivers of this danger to prevent infant deaths. Babies might suffocate or be strangled if they roll against a crib bumper, press their faces against the bumper, wedge their heads between the pad and the mattress or crib side, or if their necks get wrapped by the tie that secures the bumper to the crib.

Known problem

Her warning follows an investigative report published in the Chicago Tribune that found federal regulators have known for years that bumper pads pose a suffocation hazard for babies but failed to warn parents. Bedding manufacturers and their trade group have been alerted to the issue but have yet to take action, the Tribune reported.

"We know that children have tragically died in their cribs because of these bumper pads," Madigan said. "Parents and caregivers should remove these bumpers to prevent tragedy."

Since 2008, the National Center for Child Death Review has received reports of 14 infants who have died from suffocation caused by crib bumpers. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American SIDS Institute and the Canadian Health Department have all urged parents not to use crib bumpers.

Call for action

Attorney General Madigan said she has partnered with the American Academy of Pediatrics, Kids in Danger, the American SIDS Institute, SIDS of Illinois and the Canadian Health Department to alert caregivers of the danger crib bumpers pose.

She also sent a letter to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) demanding the group release results from its study into the dangers of crib bumper pads. A study commissioned by JPMA to investigate these dangers has yet to be published while the group internally reviews the report. Madigan urged the association to release the study immediately, so the proper authorities can take any necessary steps to prevent further harm.

"The JPMA needs to release results of its study and implement effective measures to remove these bumpers from the marketplace," Madigan said. "Manufacturers and distributors of these pads must take responsibility for the dangers posed by these products. We must work together to educate parents and caregivers and ensure cribs across Illinois and nationwide are safe for babies."

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association is a national trade organization that represents companies across the country that manufacture, import and distribute infant products like cribs, car seats and strollers.

Following recalls of millions of cribs due to entrapment deaths and injuries, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has adopted new rules designed to insure that new cribs have been tested for safety to rigorous standards.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), signed into law in August of 2008, requires the agency to issue mandatory standards for infant durable products. This provision of the CPSIA was named in honor and in memory of Danny Keysar, who was 16 months old when he died in his Chicago childcare home because a portable crib collapsed around his neck.

The CPSIA requires mandatory standards and testing for durable infant and toddler products, product registration cards and a ban on the sale or lease of unsafe cribs. Cribs are among the first products for which mandatory standards have been promulgated under this provision.

"This new mandatory standard, the strongest in the world, will ensure that new cribs coming onto the market will provide safe haven for babies and their families," said Nancy Cowles, Executive Director of Kids In Danger. "We applaud CPSC for their hard work and tenacity in developing and adopting this landmark rule."

Requirements

The new rule puts many new tests and requirements in place:

• Cribs with full side drop-sides will not be allowed -- the bottom 20 inches of the crib rail must be fixed to eliminate the entrapment hazards seen when the hardware fails.
• All cribs must undergo rigorous testing for slat strength, durability and mattress support strength. The series of testing is conducted on one crib to simulate a lifetime use of a crib. This is the key to the new standard. Most of the 10 million cribs recalled since 2007 were able to meet the weak industry standards that were in place.
• Warnings and labeling have been improved, both to make parents more aware of when a crib is mis-assembled and to alert them to developmental signs to stop using a crib (when the child attempts to climb out). While most attention has been rightly focused on entrapment deaths in cribs, most injuries are as a result of children falling out of cribs

Higher standards

The new requirements are mostly part of the ASTM International voluntary standard that has been adapted to serve as the CPSC mandatory rule. Over the past two years industry, consumer advocates and safety experts have worked to update the voluntary standard to provide real assurances of a safe product. Prior to the recent rewrite, the most recent significant changes to the voluntary standard were made in 1999.

The CPSC mandatory standard was last changed in 1982. The new standards include two sets of similar rules: one for full-size cribs and one for non-full-size cribs. Non-full-size cribs can be smaller, larger or a different shape than a full-size crib, which is a standardized shape and size.

"The lack of durability of recently produced cribs is appalling and has put many babies at risk," said Don Mays, senior director of product safety and technical policy for Consumers Union/Consumer Reports. "These new regulations will ensure safe sleep environments by raising the bar for the safety and quality of cribs."

New and used covered

For the first time, this mandatory rule promulgated by CPSC applies to products already in use by some entities as well as to new products. Efforts will begin immediately to remove older unsafe products off store shelves, out of childcare homes, and out of hotels.

The CPSIA includes a section requiring that cribs that don't meet the new standard can't be sold -- new or used, used in child care, used by hotel guests, or used in other public accommodations. This measure alone will go far in removing unsafe cribs from use. This does not apply to already purchased cribs being used in private homes, except for barring their resale.

Six months after the publication of the standard, all cribs on the market must be in compliance. The Commission voted to give childcare facilities and hotels an additional 18 months after that date to replace any non-compliant cribs. CPSC has indicated that cribs currently being manufactured and tested that meet the new standard can continue to be used, even though their sale took place prior to the new rule being official.

"After years of foot dragging by the industry," said Elizabeth Hitchcock of US Public Interest Research Group. "CPSC has now approved a standard and testing regimen that will keep children safe -- avoiding the crib recalls, entrapment deaths and injuries that have plagued the industry."

CPSC and Pottery Barn Kids have received 36 reports of drop sides that have malfunctioned or detached, resulting in seven minor injuries when children fell out of the cribs or got their legs caught between the mattress and the drop side. One child became entrapped at the head between the drop side and crib mattress but was freed without injury.

This recall involves all Pottery Barn Kids drop-side cribs regardless of the model number. Pottery Barn Kids is printed on a label attached to the crib headboard or footboard.

The cribs were sold through the Pottery Barn Kids catalog, www.potterybarnkids.com, and at Pottery Barn Kids retail stores nationwide from January 1999 through March 2010 for between $300 and $600. They were made in Canada, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia and Italy.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs, inspect the hardware to make sure it is not broken, and contact Pottery Barn Kids to receive a free fixed-gate conversion kit that will immobilize the drop side.

For additional information, contact Pottery Barn Kids at (877) 804-3847 between 7 a.m. and midnight 7 days a week or visit the firms website at www.potterybarnkids.com.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The cribs drop sides can malfunction, detach or otherwise fail, causing part of the drop side to fall out of position, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged or entrapped, which can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A child can also fall out of the crib. Drop-side incidents can also occur due to incorrect assembly and with age-related wear and tear.

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC and Evenflo have received 31 reports of drop sides that malfunctioned or detached. One involved the entrapment of a seven month old boy between the drop side and the crib mattress. He sustained bumps and bruises to his head. Nine children fell out of the crib when the drop side detached, unlocked or fell off. Seven of those children sustained minor injuries, including bumps, bruises and cuts. Fourteen other incidents involved no injuries.

In addition, CPSC has received two reports of children who became entrapped when the mattress support detached in one corner of cribs manufactured between 2000 and 2004.

The following Evenflo crib models are included in this recall. The model number is located on a label on the bottom beam of the headboard.

The cribs, made in Mexico and China, were sold at childrens product stores and various other retailers nationwide from January 2000 through November 2007 for about $200.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled drop-side cribs and contact Evenflo to receive a free repair kit that will immobilize the drop side. A repair kit for the mattress support system is also available for cribs with model numbers starting with 012 and 014 that were manufactured between 2000 and 2004. In the meantime, find an alternate, safe sleep environment for the child, such as a bassinet, play yard or toddler bed depending on the childs age. The repair kits will be provided to consumers within the next several weeks.

For additional information, contact Evenflo at (800) 356-2229 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firms web site at http://safety.evenflo.com

Cautionary note

Federal safety regulators remind parents not to use any crib with missing, broken, or loose parts. Make sure to tighten hardware from time to time to keep the crib sturdy. When using a drop-side crib, parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly. Always check all sides and corners of the crib for disengagement. Disengagements can create a gap and entrap a child.

In addition, parents should not try to repair any side of the crib. Babies have died in cribs where repairs were attempted by caregivers. Age is a factor in the safety of any crib. At a minimum, CPSC staff recommends that you not use a crib that is older than 10 years. Many older cribs may not meet current voluntary standards and can have numerous safety problems.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

After high-profile recalls of drop-side cribs that can suffocate infants, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has expanded its recall to include two million cribs made by seven companies.

The beds included in the recall were made by Child Craft, Delta Enterprises Corp., Evenflo, Jardine Enterprises, LaJobi, More on this recall and Simmons Juvenile Products Inc.

Some, but not all, are the drop-side cribs, which pose a danger to infants who become trapped in the gap between the mattress and the side of the crib. Included in this latest recall is the Child Craft brand "Crib 'N' Double Bed" full size stationary-side crib with dowel.

The crib's stationary side can be assembled upside-down but still appears to be assembled correctly. If assembled upside-down, the crib side contains a hazardous five-inch gap at the top of the crib. Infants or toddlers can become entrapped in this gap, which can lead to entrapment, strangulation or other injuries.

CPSC has received four reports of children becoming entrapped between the dowel and the crib's stationary front side. In two of those reports, the child was trapped by his/her head and was in danger of being strangled. In the other two reports, the child was trapped by his/her arm. This hazard can occur on both the front and back sides of the crib, the agency said.

Listed below are cribs included in the latest recall.

747,000 Delta drop-side cribs

Improper installation can cause the mattress platform to collapse.

This recall involves Delta drop-side cribs with three different types of drop-side hardware and Delta cribs with wooden stabilizer bars that support the mattress platform.

• Delta Enterprises Corp.

750,000 Jenny Lind drop-side cribs distributed by Evenflo

CPSC and Evenflo have received 31 reports of drop sides that malfunctioned or detached. One involved the entrapment of a seven-month-old boy between the drop side and the crib mattress. He sustained bumps and bruises to his head. Nine children fell out of the crib when the drop side detached, unlocked or fell off. Seven of those children sustained minor injuries, including bumps, bruises and cuts. Fourteen other incidents involved no injuries. In addition, CPSC has received two reports of children who became entrapped when the mattress support detached in one corner of cribs manufactured between 2000 and 2004.

306,000 Bonavita, Babi Italia and ISSI drop-side cribs manufactured by LaJobi

This recall involves all models of Bonavita, Babi Italia and ISSI drop-side cribs manufactured by LaJobi. The cribs have drop-side hardware that contains metal or plastic pegs that are recessed into either the drop side or the headboard and footboard of the crib. A label on the headboard of the crib identifies the manufacturer as LaJobi.

• LaJobi

130,000 Jardine drop-side cribs imported by Toys R Us

The cribs' drop sides can malfunction, detach or otherwise fail, causing part of the drop side to fall out of position, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged or entrapped, which can lead to strangulation or suffocation.

• Jardine Enterprises

156,000 Million Dollar Baby drop-side cribs

CPSC and Million Dollar Baby have received 43 reports of drop side failures. There were eight reports of children being entrapped between the mattress and drop side resulting in three reports of bruises to the head or upper body. Additionally, three children fell out of the crib when the drop side failed but they were not injured.

• More on this recall

50,000 Simmons drop-side cribs

The cribs' drop sides can malfunction, detach or otherwise fail, causing part of the drop side to fall out of position, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged or entrapped, which can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A child can also fall out of the crib. Drop-side incidents can also occur due to incorrect assembly and with age-related wear and tear. Style numbers are printed on a permanent label on the headboard.

• Simmons Juvenile Products Inc.

In the last five years more than nine million cribs have been recalled because of a potential hazard to children. Drop-side cribs are blamed for the deaths of 32 children since 2000, CPSC said.

The cribs drop-side hardware can disengage from the tracks, causing the drop side to detach from the crib. When the drop-side partially detaches, it creates space between the drop side and the crib mattress. The bodies of infants and toddlers can become entrapped in the space, which can lead to strangulation and/or suffocation.

Complete detachment of the drop sides can lead to falls from the crib. In addition, slats can detach from the sides of the cribs. Infants and toddlers can then become entrapped, strangle or fall out of the crib.

CPSC and C&T/Sorelle have received reports of 104 incidents of drop-side and slat detachments in C&T/Sorelle drop-side cribs. Six infants received bruises and abrasions to the head, face, torso or leg from becoming entrapped or falling after the drop side collapsed. An additional five infants who were entrapped or fell were found by their parents and were not injured.

This recall involves C&T International, Sorelle and Golden Baby wood cribs. The full-size cribs were sold in natural, white and cherry finishes. The model number and/or model name is printed on a label affixed to the footboard or headboard under the Caution statement.

The cribs were sold at childrens product stores and other retailers nationwide from January 2000 through March 2010 for between $300 and $600. They were made in Italy, Latvia, Brazil, China and Vietnam.

CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should contact C&T/Sorelle to receive a free replacement kit. For four of the older models of the cribs the Hampton, Jackie, Nina and Rita models -- the firm may be unable to supply a part to repair the crib and will, instead, provide consumers with a $100 voucher towards the purchase of another C&T product.

The following cribs are included in the recall (arger photos).

Important Message from CPSC: CPSC reminds parents not to use any crib with missing, broken, or loose parts. Make sure to tighten hardware from time to time to keep the crib sturdy. When using a drop-side crib, parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly. Always check all sides and corners of the crib for disengagement. Disengagements can create a gap and entrap a child. In addition, do not try to repair any side of the crib. Babies have died in cribs where repairs were attempted by caregivers.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The crib's tubular metal mattress-support frame can bend or detach and cause part of the mattress to collapse, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged, entrapped or fall out of the crib.

CPSC has received a report of a one-year-old child from North Attleboro, Mass. who suffocated when he became entrapped between the crib mattress and the crib frame in April 2008. CPSC is aware of 13 additional incidents involving the recalled cribs collapsing due to the metal mattress-support frame bending or detaching, including one child entrapment that did not result in injury, and one child who suffered minor cuts to his head when his mattress collapsed and he fell out of the crib.

CPSC staff urges parents and caregivers to stop using these cribs immediately and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Do not attempt to fix these cribs.

Due to the fact that Simplicity and its successor, SFCA Inc., are no longer in business, CPSC has limited information about the number of cribs sold.

All Simplicity drop-side cribs have previously been recalled for a hazard involving the drop side. Simplicity drop-side cribs could still be in use by parents or caregivers who are unaware of the recalls or by those who received a repair kit to immobilize the drop side from Simplicity when the firm was still in business. This recall involves all Simplicity cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames, which include but are not limited to the following models:

Some model numbers are followed by letters, indicating the color or finish of the crib. The name "Simplicity Inc." or "Simplicity for Children" appears on a label on the crib's mattress-support frame and/or the crib's end panels. The cribs were manufactured in China.

The recalled cribs were sold at Walmart, Target, Babies R Us and other stores nationwide for between $150 and $300. Consumers should contact the store where the crib was purchased to receive a refund, replacement crib or store credit.

Warning

CPSC would like to remind parents not to use any crib with missing, broken or loose parts. Make sure to tighten hardware from time to time to keep the crib sturdy. When using a drop-side crib, parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly. Always check all sides and corners of the crib for disengagement. Any disengagement can create a gap, which could fatally entrap a child. In addition, do not try to repair any side of the crib with tape, wire, rope or by other means. Infants and toddlers have died in cribs with makeshift repairs.

For more information on Crib Safety, visit CPSC's Crib Information Center.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

March 29, 2010
After a number of recalls and infant deaths associated with drop-side cribs, the State of Illinois is pushing crib manufacturers to make the beds safer.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says she has sent a letter to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) requesting that they "...take immediate action to address the hazards associated with drop-side cribs." She has specifically asked JPMA Executive Director Michael Dwyer to take three immediate actions:

• Remove the JPMA seal from all drop-side cribs that remain on the market.

• Initiate an education and outreach campaign to inform consumers of the risks associated with drop-side cribs; and

• Provide consumers who have drop-side cribs with a purchase incentive in exchange for their unsafe crib.

"The JPMA Certification Seal is meant to guarantee consumers that the product was designed, built and tested to the very highest safety standards. Allowing the JPMA Certification Seal on drop-side cribs falsely assures consumers that these dangerous products are safe." Madigan said in her letter.

Almost seven million cribs have been recalled since 2007 because of drop-side detachments. Twenty-one children have died when the drop-side of their crib detached, creating a gap that they slid into, and then suffocated.

The Attorney General made the announcement today at a press conference hosted by Kids in Danger (KIDS) in Chicago where it released its annual study of recalled children's products.

CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum told a House Energy and Commerce Committee panel that her "Safe Sleep Initiative" is considering a requirement that crib makers offer a refund or store credit when crib is recalled. This, she testified, would "incentivize consumers to discard and replace defective cribs."

At the same time, she cautioned that the requirement couldn't send manufacturers into bankruptcy or financial distress, as that could "foreclose the possibility of any corrective action."

Committee Chairman Bart Stupak (D-MI), emphasized the importance of the issue noting that "a baby crib is the only product designed expressly so that parents can leave their children unattended for long periods of time and be confident their children will be safe. What is most shocking," he added, "is that all of these recalled cribs were certified as meeting the industry's voluntary safety standards."

As part of her 6-step initiative, Tenenbaum said she plans to ratchet up public outreach in cases of crib and durable infant and toddler product recalls. This would include increasing consumer awareness via multimedia tools, including print, radio, television, and social media, as well as community-based events and partnerships with crib advocacy groups including Safe Kids USA, Keeping Babies Safe, and the National Safety Council.

The hearing by the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations came less than two weeks the recall of more than 2 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs and just days after Dorel Asia recalled more than 6000,000 cribs.

Federal crib safety standards haven't been updated since 1982.

The drop side hardware can fail causing the drop side to detach from the crib. When the drop side detaches it creates a space in which an infant or toddler can become entrapped and suffocate or strangle. In addition, the recalled cribs can pose a serious entrapment and strangulation hazard when a slat is damaged. This can occur while the crib is in use, in storage, being put together, taken apart or reassembled; or during shipping and handling.

Dorel Asia said it received a report of the death of 6-month old child from Cedar Rapids, Iowa who became entrapped and strangled in a crib after the drop side hardware broke. The crib continued to be used after the parents tried to repair the drop side themselves.

Federal safety regulators and Dorel Asia said they also received reports of 31 drop side incidents. In six of those incidents, children were entrapped between the drop side and crib mattress. Three children suffered from bruises as a result of the entrapment. In addition, CPSC and Dorel Asia received reports of 36 incidents of slat breakage, including seven reports of bruises and scratches to children and two reports of entrapment that resulted in no injury.

The following Dorel Asia cribs are involved in the recall:

The cribs were sold at Kmart, Sears and Wal-Mart stores nationwide from January 2005 through December 2009 for between $120 and $700. They were made in China and Vietnam.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs, find an alternative safe sleeping environment for your child, and contact Dorel Asia to receive a free replacement kit. Consumers should log on to www.dorel-asia.com to order the free replacement kit to prevent child entrapment in these cribs. The repair kits will be provided to owners within the next several weeks.

Call Dorel Asia toll-free at (866) 762-2304 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firms Web site at www.dorel-asia.com

Important Message from CPSC: CPSC reminds parents not to use any crib with missing, broken, or loose parts. Make sure to tighten hardware from time to time to keep the crib sturdy. When using a drop-side crib, parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly. Always check all sides and corners of the crib for disengagement. Disengagements can create a gap and entrap a child. In addition, do not try to repair any side of the crib, especially with duct tape, wire or rope.

Visit CPSC's Crib Information Center for more information on Crib Safety and Recalls.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

By Jon Hood
ConsumerAffairs.com

November 27, 2009
The manufacturer of recently-recalled cribs is now facing a wave of class actions across Canada, as the incident exposes deep flaws in the country's product safety laws.

Stork Craft Manufacturing, a leading manufacturer of children's products, recalled over two million cribs because of a design defect that can cause strangulation of infants.

Over 1.2 Stork Craft- and Fisher Price-branded cribs were recalled in the U.S., and an additional million were targeted in Canada. The manufacturer has advised consumers to wait for a free repair kit before using the crib again, and to find a safe sleeping environment for their children in the meantime.

Stork Craft, headquartered in Richmond, B.C., is now named in class actions in at least six provinces, many of which question the manufacturer's response to the recall. Tony Merchant of the Merchant Law Group is behind many of the lawsuits. He told The Canadian Press that consumers don't want the free repair kit; they want their money back, and the crib out of their house.

I haven't talked to a single solitary person who is prepared to go on using this crib, whether they tinker with it or make repairs or not, Merchant said. People say, I am not going to gamble on killing or injuring my child.

Merchant has signed up around 1,000 Canadian consumers so far, and expects more to join in the near future. He is also consulting with an American law firm about the possibility of joining U.S. consumers. Regardless of whether that effort is successful, there is little doubt that the recall will be the subject of vigorous litigation in the U.S.

Flaws found

Meanwhile, the incident has highlighted deep flaws in Canada's consumer-protection laws.

A top official for Health Canada, the government agency in charge of public health, told the Canadian Senate that mandatory reporting of serious incidents would have gone a long way toward preventing or at least severely curbing the incidents. The House of Commons has unanimously endorsed a proposed law that would make such reporting mandatory.

Paul Glover, the Health Canada official, also pointed out that the most his agency can currently do is urge companies to recall products voluntarily. The proposed legislation would give Health Canada the authority to institute mandatory recalls.

More disturbingly, Canadian news sources have reported that Health Canada received the first complaints of defective Stork Craft cribs 14 years ago, but didn't become fully aware of the situation until the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) alerted them in August to complaints from American consumers. The two agencies then began working in tandem to assess the gravity and scope of the defect.

The recall covers Stork Craft drop-side cribs and Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. Cribs without a plastic trigger or one-hand drop-side hardware are not implicated. CPSC, Health Canada, and Stork Craft know of at least 110 incidents where the cribs' drop-side detached, 67 in the U.S. and 43 in Canada. At least four deaths, all of them in the U.S., have occurred as a result of the defect.

Consumes with questions or in need of information, or who want to order the free repair kit, can contact Stork Craft toll-free anytime at (877) 274-0277 or at www.storkcraft.com.

The recall of more than 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs, including about 147,000 Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo, is just the latest in a series of actions involving children's products this year.

In January, Stork Craft announced the recall of more than 500,000 cribs. And this past summer, Simplicity announced it was recalling more than 500,000 cribs.

As part of the most recent recall, involving approximately 1,213,000 units distributed in the United States and 968,000 units distributed in Canada, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents and caregivers to stop using the recalled cribs immediately, wait for the free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side and not to attempt to fix the cribs without the kit.

They also are advising parents to find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby.

However, obtaining the repair kit has not been easy.

• • Teryn L. of Spanish Fort Ala., tells ConsumerAffairs.com that when she ordered the replacement brackets back in January, she was told they would be shipped and arrive in ten business days. After a month, she says, she received nothing, adding, "I have tried to call the company and I get a recording that says the mailbox is full or the number stays busy all day." Teryn says her daughter is now sleeping in a Pack-n-Play, which is not intended for sleeping full time.
  • Iwona L. of Addison Ill., tells us of a similar problem. "I have been unable to contact them. The phone is constantly busy and the website is unable to download. How do they expect customers to get in touch with them without sufficient customer service representatives attending to the phones?"

Could be quicker

The head of the CPSC acknowledges that her agency did not move quickly enough to get the Stork Craft cribs off the market. "We were not advancing this case as quickly as possible," said Chairman Inez Tenenbaum in an interview with The Associated Press. "So, I put all of the resources for the agency on this project so that they could accomplish this goal of recalling the crib."

Alan Korn, executive director of Safe Kids USA, tells ConsumerAffairs.com that he's gratified by the increased attention being paid by CPSC. "There does seem to be that there's a new day at the agency," Korn said. "We're hopeful that the agency will be more aggressive for products like cribs, bassinets and playpens."

Korn stresses that "cheaper is not better," when it comes to infant products. He says the recalls are usually the lower price cribs "where the hardware is weaker - it's plastic, maybe the craftsmanship isn't there." If possible, Korn advises, parents should upgrade the crib purchases.

Safe Kids USA says that if there's any product that needs to be particularly safe for infants, its cribs because, says Korn, this is "where we leave children unattended for long periods of time." He calls incidents involving cribs, particularly when there are deaths, "very alarming."

November 23, 2009
More than 1.2 million Stork Craft and Fisher-Price cribs are being recalled in the United States because of an infant entrapment and suffocation hazard blamed for at least four infant deaths. Nearly 1 million additional cribs are being recalled in Canada.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said parents and caregivers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs, wait for the free repair kit, and should not attempt to fix the cribs without the kit. They should find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby.

Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side. For additional information, contact Stork Craft toll-free at (877) 274-0277 anytime to order the free repair kit, or go to www.storkcraft.com.

The cribs' drop-side plastic hardware can break, deform, or parts can become missing. In addition, the drop-side can be installed upside-down, which can result in broken or disengaged plastic parts. All of these problems can cause the drop-side to detach in one or more corners. When the drop-side detaches, it creates space between the drop-side and the crib mattress. Infants and toddlers can become entrapped in the space which can lead to suffocation. Complete detachment of drop-sides can lead to falls from the crib.

CPSC, Health Canada, and Stork Craft are aware of 110 incidents of drop-side detachment; 67 incidents occurred in the United States and 43 in Canada. The incidents include 15 entrapments; 12 in the U.S. and three in Canada. Four of the entrapments resulted in suffocation: a 7-month-old in Gouverneur, N.Y.; a 7-month-old in New Iberia, La.; a 6-month-old in Summersville, W.Va.; and a 9-month-old in Bronx, N.Y.

Included in these incidents are 20 falls from cribs; 12 in the U.S. and eight in Canada. Fall injuries ranged from concussion to bumps and bruises. The cribs involved in these incidents had plastic drop-side hardware that had broken, missing, or deformed claws, connectors, tracks, or flexible tab stops; loose or missing metal spring clips; stripped screws; and/or drop-sides installed upside-down.

This recall involves Stork Craft drop-side cribs and Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. This recall does not involve any cribs that do not have a drop-side. This recall does not involve any cribs with metal rod drop-side hardware. It involves only those cribs with plastic trigger and one-hand-system drop-side hardware.

This recall includes Stork Craft cribs with manufacturing and distribution dates between January 1993 and October 2009. This recall also includes Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo that have manufacturing dates between October 1997 and December 2004. The Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo were first sold in the U.S. in July 1998 and in Canada in September 1998. The cribs were sold in various styles and finishes.

The manufacture date, model number, crib name, country of origin, and the firm's name, address, and contact information are located on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board. The firm's insignia 'storkcraft baby' or 'storkling' is inscribed on the drop-side teething rail of some cribs. In Stork Craft cribs that contain the 'Fisher-Price' logo, this logo can be found on the crib's teething rail, in the manufacturer's instructions, on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board, and on the end panels of the Twinkle-Twinkle and Crystal crib models.

Major retailers in the United States and Canada sold the recalled cribs including BJ's Wholesale Club, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Meijer, Sears, USA Baby, and Wal-Mart stores and online at Amazon.com, Babiesrus.com, Costco.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com from January 1993 through October 2009 for between $100 and $400.

The cribs were manufactured in Canada, China and Indonesia.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

July 2, 2009
About 400,000 Simplicity drop side cribs are being recalled. The crib's plastic hardware can break or deform, causing the drop side to detach. When the drop side detaches, it creates space between the drop side and the crib mattress. Infants and toddlers can roll into this space and become entrapped which can lead to suffocation.

Federal safety regulators say they are aware of one death involving an 8-month-old child from Houston, Texas who became entrapped and suffocated between the drop side and the crib mattress when a plastic connector on the drop side broke. CPSC also is aware of an additional 25 incidents involving the drop side detaching from the crib.

In six of these incidents, the drop side detached because the plastic flexible tab deformed or broke. In four of the drop side detachment incidents, other plastic parts, including connectors or tracks, deformed or broke. In two of the incidents, two children became entrapped between the drop side and the crib mattress. There were no reported injuries.

The cribs were imported by Simplicity Inc. and SFCA Inc. of Reading, Pa. The firms are apparently no longer in business and unable to aid in the recall, the CPSC said.

This recall involves all drop side cribs with a different or 'newer' style of plastic hardware from those cribs recalled in September 2007. This newer style of Simplicity hardware can be identified by a flexible plastic tab at the top of the lower tracks. The recalled model numbers include but may not be limited to: 8050, 8325, 8620, 8745, 8748, 8755, 8756, 8765, 8778, 8810, and 8994, 8995, 8996.

The cribs, made in China, were sold at department stores, children's stores, and mass merchandisers nationwide from January 2005 through June 2009 for between $150 and $300.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should immediately return the crib to the place of purchase for a refund, replacement or store credit.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Retailers and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are recalling about 600,000 Simplicity drop-side cribs because of an entrapment and suffocation hazard.

It's the latest in a series of safety warnings and recalls affecting Simplicity baby furniture. Last month, safety regulators warned that Simplicity bassinets had been implicated in the deaths of two infatns.

The recall notice said that, due to sizing problems with the cribs hardware, the drop side can come off the tracks. When the drop side detaches or partially detaches, it creates a hazardous gap, which can lead to infant entrapment and suffocation.

There have been at least nine incidents in which the drop side detached but so far, there have been no reports of injuries.

This recall of Simplicity drop side cribs involves models that used a different style of hardware from those cribs recalled in September 2007. The recalled model numbers include: 8620, 8745, 8748, 8755, 8756, 8778, 8810, and 8994. The recalled drop side cribs have a date code, which can be found on a label on the headboard under the mattress support, which ends in 05DH, 05GB, 06DH, 06GB, 07DH or 07GB (examples: 1806 DH or 0507 GB). The recalled model names include: Aspen and Crib N Changer Combo, Gabrielle, Camille, Providence and Shenandoah. Only the brand name Simplicity can be seen on the label on the headboard.

The cribs, made in China, were sold by department stores, childrens stores and mass merchandisers nationwide from January 2005 through August 2008 for between $150 and $300.

Retailers participating in the recall include:

AAFES, of Dallas, Texas
BabiesRUs, of Wayne, N.J.
Burlington Coat Factory/Baby Depot, of Burlington, N.J.
Ks Merchandise (out of business)
Meijer Distribution Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich.
Nebraska Furniture Mart, of Omaha, Neb.
ShopKo, of Green Bay, Wis.
Target, of Minneapolis, Minn.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc, of Bentonville, Ark.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should return the recalled crib to the place of purchase for a refund or store credit. SFCA Inc., of Reading, Pa., Simplicity's successor company, is working with retailers to carry out this recall program.

For additional information, contact:

AAFES - (800) 866-3605 www.AAFES.com

Babies R Us - (800) 869-7787 www.babiesrus.com

Burlington Coat Factory/Baby Depot - www.babydepot.com

Meijer Distribution Inc. - (866) 280-8419 www.meijer.com

Nebraska Furniture Mart 800-359-1200 - www.nfm.com

Shopko - (800) 791-7333 www.shopko.com

Target - (800) 440-0680 - www.target.com

Wal-Mart - (800) 925-6278 - www.walmart.com

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

June 24, 2008
About 320,000 Jardine Cribs sold by Babies R Us stores are being recalled. The wooden crib slats and spindles can break, creating a gap, which can pose an entrapment and strangulation hazard to infants.

There have been 42 incidents of crib slats and spindles breaking. Four children became entrapped in the space created by a broken slat or spindle. Two of the children had abrasions and bruising.

Jardine wooden cribs in various styles and finishes, as listed below, are included in this recall.

The model number is printed on the inside of the bottom rail of the headboard or footboard.

The cribs were sold at KidsWorld, Geoffrey Stores, Toys'R'Us, and Babies'R'Us stores nationwide, and at babiesrus.com, from January 2002 through May 2008 for between $150 and $300, with one model, 0309K00 Mahogany Positano Lifetime Crib, which sold for $450. They were made in China and Vietnam.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and contact Jardine to receive a full credit toward the purchase of a new crib.

For additional information, contact Jardine at (800) 646-4106 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET Saturday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.jardinecribrecall.com

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

June 5, 2008
Bassettbaby is recalling about 550 Wendy Bellissimo Hidden Hills Collection cribs sold at Babies R Us.

The space between the spindles on some cribs can fail to meet federal standards and can pose an entrapment hazard to infants.

This recall involves a full-size crib from the Wendy Bellissimo Hidden Hills collection, model number 5446-0521. The model number is located on the bottom rail of the headboard. The crib was sold in a Navajo Pine finish.

The cribs, made in China, were sold by Babies "R" Us stores nationwide from November 2007 through February 2008 for about $500.

Consumers should stop using the crib immediately and contact Bassettbaby to schedule an in-home inspection of the crib. Recalled cribs will be replaced. The firm has contacted consumers directly.

For additional information, contact Bassettbaby at (866) 618-5446 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Sunday.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

June 5, 2008
Simmons Kids is recalling about 20,000 crib mattresses. Some of the crib mattresses can measure smaller than the 27 1/4 inch minimum width requirement for cribs, creating a gap between the mattress and crib side rails, posing an entrapment hazard to infants.

Simmons Kids and CPSC have received one report of a 6-month old baby becoming wedged between the mattress and crib's frame. The baby was removed from the crib by the parent without injury.

The recalled mattresses involve open coil crib mattresses manufactured between July 1, 2006 and March 23, 2008 with a color label attached to the top or side of the mattress that has the following model names:

•   Pottery Barn Kids by Simmons Kids Lullaby
•  Simmons Kids Slumber Time Evening Star Luxury Firm
•  Simmons Kids Baby Mattress Series 400
•  Simmons Kids Baby Mattress 234 Coil Count

The crib mattresses also have a "law tag" that is sewn into the edge of the mattress. The law tag has the date of manufacture and in most cases will contain one of the following model numbers: H59044.15.0014, M59082.15.0002, M59027.15.0002 or M59065.15.0006. Pocketed Coils and Simmons Kids or Simmons Juvenile Products crib mattresses manufactured before July 1, 2006 or after March 23, 2008 are not included in the recall.

The mattresses were sold at Pottery Barn Kids and nursery furniture retailers from July 2006 through May 2008 for between $100 and $150. They were made in the United States.

Consumers should measure the width of their mattress using a reliable measuring device, such as a yard stick or tape measure, by removing all outer coverings, placing mattress on floor and measuring the width near the middle, from the outside edge of the tape binding to the opposite side of the mattress. Consumers should immediately stop using the mattress if it measures less than 27 1/4 inches and contact Simmons Kids to receive a free replacement mattress.

For additional information, contact Simmons Kids at (800) 810-8611 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Thursday, and between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. ET, on Friday or visit the firm's Web site at www.simmonskids.com.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The CPSC estimates that 66,400 children were seriously injured in the nursery in 2006, the highest total since 2002 when the agency estimated 67,000. It is a major increase from 2005, when the figure was 59,800.

The average number of deaths from 2002-2004 jumped only one to 81, compared to 80 during the years 2001-2003. However, those are not final figures and the totals are likely to rise because of a lag in reporting infant deaths from coroners and hospitals.

In other words, the 2001-2003 report is mostly complete while the 2002-2004 figures are still preliminary.

Alan Korn, director of public policy at the nonprofit Safe Kids USA, said he is concerned with the numbers.

Safe Kids is and has always been particularly concerned about the safety of cribs, playpens, bassinets and play yards because these are the only products that we can think of that either by design, by intent, by custom or practice, you leave your children unattended in them for long unsupervised periods of time, Korn said. So, if there is any environment on earth, or certainly in the home, that needs to be safe for child, it's those products.

Record recalls

The report did not include any statistics for 2007, which saw the record recall of 1,040,000 Simplicity cribs and bassinets, blamed for killing at least four infants.

An investigation by The Chicago Tribune found Simplicity and the CPSC knew for more than two years the faulty hardware and improper installation could leave babies vulnerable to suffocating in the cribs.

One of the things that concerned us with the Simplicity Crib recall was that there was a crib recall and within a handful of days, there was a bassinet recall, Korn said.

That tells me that you could've very well had people trying to do the right thing -- taking their kids out of cribs, putting them back in bassinets -- only to have the bassinet recalled within a handful of days. So parents are struggling finding a safe sleeping environment.

Korn does not blame the CPSC but said the agency could do more.

We believe that there should be extra special focus policing the marketplace for cribs, playpens, bassinets and play yards, he said.

Parents to blame?

The Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association (JPMA), the nursery manufacturers' lobbying arm, places blame with parents in a statement released today.

It is important to note that while nursery products were involved in these incidents, the incidents were not necessarily caused by the failure of the product, according to the statement. In many cases, injury or death were caused when the child was left unattended or caregivers misused the product or did not follow the manufacturer instructions or safety guidelines.

JPMA believes that instead of alarming parents, we should work together to educate them about the importance of the proper use and installation of juvenile products, the statement continued.

But Korn disagrees and says manufacturers could do much more to save infant lives.

What's wrong with companies implementing what's called passive prevention? That means designing your products in a fashion in which they are durable and can stay safe over time and also don't have unintended design hazards in them, Korn said.

In today's day and age, we're supposed to have safer products on the marketplace, parents are supposed to be as educated as they've ever been and companies are certainly more aware now than they've ever been about CPSC regulations, voluntary regulations and design products, Korn said. I'm disappointed that the numbers aren't going down.

What to do

According to a CPSC press release, the agency recommends:

• 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 babys head or neck

• Infants can strangle 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. Do not use old, broken or modified cribs and be sure to 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

Korn also suggested parents bring their own playpens for their children to sleep in at hotels.

We've found that 25 percent of (hotel cribs) are recalled and the vast majority of them had some safety concern with them, he said.

February 28, 2008    
About 24,000 cribs imported and distributed by Munire Furniture Inc. are being recalled because of a fall hazard. The cribs were sold under several brand names, including Majestic Curved Top and Flat Top Cribs, Essex Cribs, Brighton/Sussex Cribs and Captiva Cribs.

The cribs fail to meet the federal safety standards for cribs. The four support brackets on the mattress support spring are too long. The brackets prevent the spring from lowering to the full 26 inch minimum height in its lowest position, allowing children inside to crawl over the railing, posing a fall hazard.

The cribs are wooden. The recalled cribs include: Majestic Curved Top cribs with model number 9500; Majestic Flat Top cribs with model number 9000; Essex cribs with model number 7100; Brighton/Sussex cribs with model number 9100 and Captiva cribs with model number 5100. Only cribs with manufacture dates between November 1, 2005 and November 1, 2007 are included in the recall.

The crib model number is printed on the white label on the bottom inside of the right side rail. The crib manufacture date is printed on either the white label near the model number or on the white label located on the bottom of the headboard. Cribs with a green sticker on the mattress frame are not included in the recall.

The cribs were sold at specialty juvenile product stores nationwide from November 2005 through November 2007 for between $400 and $600. They were made in Indonesia.

Consumers should stop using the recalled cribs and contact Munire Furniture to receive replacement spring brackets.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

October 10, 2007
Authorities in Pineville, Missouri, say a 4-month-old girl has died in a Simplicity Inc. 4-in-1 bassinet that was not part of last month's recall of 1 million Simplicity and Graco cribs.

B.J. Goodwin, McDonald County coroner, said Katelynn Marie Simon died Sept. 29 of accidental positional asphyxiation after she was caught between the rail of the bassinet and the mattress, The Joplin Globe reported.

Local officials said they contacted the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) immediately.

We filed a report with them the first day, deputy sheriff Jeff Sutherland said, the Globe reported. We wanted to get them involved as quickly as possible to get this thing (bassinet) off the market.

Sutherland said a CPSC investigator brought a doll similar in size and weight to Katelynn, and that the death was re-enacted at the sheriffs office. He said the childs torso became caught in a gap between the rail of the bassinet and the mattress.

She was feet down and in a position that every time she exhaled, she slipped down a little further, he said, according to the Globe's report. She got down far enough that her chest couldnt expand to breathe.

Sutherland said the product is available at Wal-Mart and Target stores, and online.

Made in China

The bassinet -- model No. 3112DOH6 -- has Winnie the Pooh decorations. Its label says it was made in China for Simplicity. The model does not appear in the product section of Simplicity's Web site.

Last month's recall came after reports of three infant deaths.

The drop-side can detach from the crib, which can create a dangerous gap and lead to the entrapment and suffocation of infants.

The CPSC said it was aware of two deaths in Simplicity manufactured cribs with older style hardware, including a 9-month-old child and a 6-month-old child, where the drop-side was installed upside down.

CPSC is also investigating the death of a 1-year-old child in a Simplicity crib with newer style hardware, in which the drop-side was installed upside down. CPSC is also aware of seven infant entrapments and 55 incidents in these cribs, it said.

Last June, Simplicity recalled about 40,000 of its Nursery-in-a-Box Cribs because of a choking and fall hazard.

Fix it yourself

In the recall of 1 million cribs last month, Simplicity officials said they would send parents repair kits with new hardware that would correct the problem, but an investigation by the Illinois Attorney General uncovered flaws in the program..

An investigator in Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office called Simplicity posing as a consumer and asked for one of the repair kits. It was sent overnight to her.

When she opened it, pieces of plastic hardware fell out, but there were no instructions on what to do with them, Madigan's office said.

Cara Smith, the Madigan aide who received the repair kit without any instructions, said it illustrated how Simplicity and the CPSC "appear to be no closer to making consumers safe" than they were before the recall, the largest of full-size cribs in U.S. history.

Who knew what when?

An investigation by The Chicago Tribune found that Simplicity and the CPSC knew for more than two years that the faulty hardware and improper installation could leave babies vulnerable to suffocating in the cribs.

The Tribune said it found numerous complaints about the design of a popular Simplicity crib, the Aspen 3 in 1. It said the complaints documented the failure of the federal watchdog agency to fully investigate the death of 9-month-old Liam Johns in 2005.

The drop rail on Liam's crib separated from its frame, and the infant asphyxiated when he slipped feet-first though the gap, in an accident similar to that which befell the Missouri child.

Wrong parts

In Kokomo, Indiana, a ConsumerAffairs.com reader complained that she had reported damaged items and missing hardware in Simplicity's Crib'n Changer Combo. Lee Ann said she was afraid to put her daughter in its crib because of its instability.

"The changer seperates from the crib far enough where I have been concered for my daughters safety, not to mention the hardware replacements I continue to this day to still ask for," she said.

Lee Ann said she called the 800 number supplied with the crib and Simplicity agreed to send replacement parts, but then sent the wrong parts. "It is exhausting to go through this over and over, and then when a box finally arrives, it's the wrong thing," she said.

Simplicity Inc. is recalling nearly one million cribs, including some that may have been recalled previously, after reports of three infant deaths.

The drop-side can detach from the crib, which can create a dangerous gap and lead to the entrapment and suffocation of infants.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said it is aware of two deaths in Simplicity manufactured cribs with older style hardware, including a 9-month-old child and a 6-month-old child, where the drop-side was installed upside down.

CPSC is also investigating the death of a 1-year-old child in a Simplicity crib with newer style hardware, in which the drop-side was installed upside down. CPSC is also aware of seven infant entrapments and 55 incidents in these cribs.

The drop-side failures result from both the hardware and crib design, which allow consumers to unintentionally install the drop-side upside down. This, in turn, can weaken the hardware and cause the drop-side to detach from the crib. When the drop-side detaches, it creates a gap in which infants can become entrapped.

CPSC is warning parents and caregivers to check all Simplicity cribs to make sure the drop-side is installed right side up.

To do this, check to see that the slightly rounded rail with the decorative groove is installed at the top and the plain rail is on the bottom. Next, consumers should make sure the drop-side is securely attached to the tracks in all four corners.

CPSC said it is also aware of two incidents that occurred when the drop-side was correctly installed with older style hardware, though the upside down installation greatly increases the risk of failure.

It's the second Simplicity recall this year. In June, the company recalled t 40,000 of its Nursery-in-a-Box Cribs because of a choking and fall hazard.

Consumer confusion

Consumer advocates were critical of the CPSC's announcement, saying it did not make clear that some of the cribs had already been recalled for other problems.

"This crib recall is very confusing for consumers because many of the products involved have previously been recalled and it doesn't explain that anywhere in the agency's press releases," said Consumer Federation of America Director of Product Safety Rachel Weintraub.

"A crib is one of the few products that's actually designed for a parent to leave a child unattended. When there's a problem of this magnitude with a crib, there's a huge breach of trust with the manufacturer," she said.

Others noted the CPSC's release referred only to Simplicity cribs in its headline and did not mention the Graco brand until the fifth paragraph of its news release.

"CPSC does this constantly -- they build their release around the corporate name of the manufacturer or importer instead of a brand name that consumers might recognize," said ConsumerAffairs.com President and Editor in Chief James R. Hood.

"A big part of the CPSC's mission is alerting the public to safety hazards. To do that, it needs to use readily-recognized brand names, not obscure corporate identities that mean nothing to the consumer," Hood said.

The recalled Simplicity crib models include: Aspen 3 in 1, Aspen 4 in 1, Nursery-in-a-Box, Crib N Changer Combo, Chelsea and Pooh 4 in 1. The recall also involves the following Simplicity cribs that used the Graco logo: Aspen 3 in 1, Ultra 3 in 1, Ultra 4 in1, Ultra 5 in 1, Whitney and the Trio.

The recalled cribs have one of the following model numbers, which can be found on the envelope attached to the mattress support and on the label attached to the headboard: 4600, 4605, 4705, 5000, 8000, 8324, 8800, 8740, 8910, 8994, 8050, 8750, 8760, and 8996.

The cribs, which were made in China, were sold in department stores, children's stores and mass merchandisers nationwide from January 1998 through May 2007 for between $100 and $300.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The child died on January 6, 2006, after two of the mattress support slats came out of his recalled crib, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. He became entrapped between the mattress and the footboard of the crib and suffocated.

CPSC and Simplicity Inc. announced the recall of about 104,000 Aspen 3 in 1 Cribs on December 21, 2005.

The recall was conducted because the screws on the wooden mattress supports can come loose, allowing a portion of the mattress to fall. This poses a suffocation hazard to young children who can slide down and become entrapped between the unsupported mattress and end of the crib.

Prior to the report of this death, Simplicity Inc. received 14 reports of the mattress supports coming loose, including eight reports of entrapment. Five injuries were reported including scratches and bruises to the face and head, a strained neck and a report of a child turning blue.

Although the Graco logo appears on these products, the cribs were manufactured by Simplicity Inc. Consumers should only contact Simplicity about this recall, the CPSC said.

The recalled cribs are made of wood and have wooden mattress supports. Only cribs with wooden mattress supports and with model number 8740KCW SC and serial number 2803 SC (made the 28th week of 2003) to 1605 SC (made the 16th week of 2005) are included in this recall. The model and serial number are printed on the envelope attached to the mattress support.

The recalled cribs were sold in department and childrens product stores from August 2003 through May 2005 for about $130.

To receive a free repair kit or for more information, contact Simplicity Inc. at (800) 784-1982 anytime, or visit the Web site at www.simplicityforchildren.com.

February 24, 2004
Child Craft Industries is recalling about 3,500 Legacy cribs. The slats on the drop side rail can loosen and detach. When this happens, the space created by the gaps can allow a baby to become entangled, strangle or fall.

There have been 12 reports of the slats completely detaching. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled Legacy cribs include model numbers 16741, 21021, 23111 and 28721. The model numbers are printed on the bottom rail of the head or foot board. The full-size cribs were made from ash and maple woods, and sold in a variety of colors. All carry the Legacy Brand label.

The cribs were sold at juvenile furniture stores nationwide from March 2002 through January 2004 for between $399 and $549.

Consumers should stop using the cribs and contact Child Craft to receive a replacement drop side rail.

Consumer Contact: Call Child Craft toll-free at (888) 844-2674 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET or visit the firms Web site at www.childcraftindustries.com

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

June 4, 2003 -- Babi Italia is voluntarily recalling to replace crib drop-side rails for about 2,000 "Tiffany" and "Josephine" model cribs. The slats on the drop-side rails can come loose or detach. A child's head can get caught in the space left by loose or missing slats, presenting an entrapment hazard. In addition, children can fall through the slat opening.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

CPSC and LaJobi have received 41 reports of slats separating from rails of the crib. One child became entrapped between slats that came loose. Ten children fell out of the crib when the slats came out of the drop-side rail. No serious injuries have been reported.

The "Tiffany" and "Josephine" model cribs are made of solid natural wood with a chest of drawers attached to the footboard. The cribs can be converted into a toddler bed and an adult bed. The Tiffany cribs were manufactured from June through October 2001 and the Josephine cribs were manufactured from January through October 2001. The crib manufacture date code is located on the inside bottom of the headboard. The four middle numbers inside the eight-digit production number indicate the month and year of manufacture.

Tiffany cribs with production date codes (four middle numbers) 0601, 0701, 0801, 0901 and 1001 and Josephine cribs with production date codes (four middle numbers) 0101, 0201, 0301, 0401, 0501, 0601, 0701, 0801, 0901, and 1001 are included in the recall.

Babies R Us sold the recalled cribs exclusively from July 2001 through January 2003 for about $500.

Consumers should stop using these cribs immediately and contact LaJobi immediately to receive replacement drop-side rails. Consumers should contact LaJobi at (877) 440-2224 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Consumers also can visit the firm's Web site at www.babiitalia.com.

May 6, 2003 -- Baby's Dream Furniture is voluntarily recalling about 4,600 wooden convertible cribs manufactured from January to August 2001 to repair hinges on the drop gate.

The three hinges along the fold-down drop gate can crack or break and allow babies to have their fingers pinched. Baby's Dream has received 38 reports of broken or cracked hinges, but there have been no injuries reported.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The recalled cribs were sold under either the Baby's Dream Furniture label or the National Baby Furniture label in five different models. The five models included in the recall are "Always Crib," "Crib 4 Life," "Legendary Crib," "Set 4 Life," and "Crib-2-College."

The wooden cribs are honey, amber or cherry in color. The model names and the date of manufacture appear on a label on the lower inside of the frame. "Made in USA" is also printed on the label. Juvenile furniture and retail stores nationwide sold these cribs for between $300 and $400.

In addition, an unknown number of Baby's Dream cribs made between 1996 and 2002 may have drop gate trigger latches that are not correctly aligned to fit securely into the strike plate on the crib post. A misaligned latch where the latch trigger does not lock securely can allow the drop gate to open if a child leans on it, and the child could fall out.

Baby's Dream and CPSC have received two reports of injuries to children when the latches did not hold. Injuries included one report of a child whose head was bruised after falling onto the floor when the drop gate latch failed and one report of a crushed finger when the rail unexpectedly moved inward when the parent leaned into the crib. There were five additional reports of children falling out of cribs who received no injury.

Consumers owning these Baby's Dream cribs should call Baby's Dream at (800) TEL CRIB (835-2742) between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET or visit the firm's web site at www.babysdream.com to receive a repair kit for hinges and/or latches or for specific instructions for examining their latches. Consumers can also write to Baby's Dream Furniture Inc., at P.O. Box 579, Buena Vista, GA 31803-0579.

Hufco-Delaware Company and Evenflo Company Inc. are recalling about 364,000 portable wood cribs. If the hardware used to assemble the crib is not tight, the mattress support platform and mattress can fall to the floor. This poses a risk of injury to young children in the crib.

There have been 41 reports of mattresses falling through portable wood cribs. Of these incidents, 17 children suffered bumps, bruises or scratches.

The portable cribs are made of wood and are smaller than traditional baby cribs. The majority of these portable wood cribs were sold under the Gerry brand name, and some were sold under the Evenflo brand name. The recalled portable wood cribs have one of the following model numbers that can be found on a label on the mattress platform underneath the mattress:

Department and baby products stores nationwide sold these portable wood cribs from January 1991 through December 2002 for about $99.

Consumers should stop using these portable wood cribs immediately, and call (800) 582-9359 anytime for a free upgrade kit that provides additional support for the mattress platform. Consumers also can obtain further information about the portable wood cribs by logging onto www.evenflo.com (eventually this link will also be at www.portablewoodcrib.com).

No other cribs are included in this recall.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).