Simplicity Crib Recall

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a voluntary recall of 1 million cribs from Simplicity Inc. You can view the recall information here. A drop-side installation error may create a gap where a baby can become entrapped in the crib. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing today a voluntary recall with Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa., of about 1 million cribs. The drop-side can detach from the crib, which can create a dangerous gap and lead to the entrapment and suffocation of infants. CPSC 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 aware of seven infant entrapments and 55 incidents in these cribs. 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 warning parents and caregivers to check all Simplicity cribs to make sure the drop-side is installed right side up. 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 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. 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. Simplicity also has information here on its website. Here is how they describe the risk from the recalled cribs. The drop-side can detach from the crib, which can create a dangerous gap and lead to entrapment and suffocation of infants. The drop-side failures result from both the hardware and crib design, which allow consumers unintentionally to install the drop-side upside down. This, in turn, can weaken the hardware and lead to the drop-side separating from the crib. When the drop-side separates or detaches, it creates a gap in which infants can become entrapped. While CPSC is aware of two separation incidents that occurred when the drop side was correctly installed, the upside down installation greatly increases the risk of failure. The Chicago Tribune calls this the largest recall ever of full-size cribs. Updated 9-24-07. ABC News reports that the recalls came years after reports of infant deaths. A million cribs with a design flaw so serious, the Consumer Products Safety Commission said children should not be allowed to sleep in them for another night. But, for the past two-and-a-half years, the CPSC allowed children to sleep in those same Simplicity cribs - even though it knew that incorrectly installed drop rails had led to three infant deaths. Chad and Nicola Johns' son Liam was just 9 months old when he died in a Simplicity-manufactured crib, back in April 2005. His mother went into his room in the morning, and found him hanging in a gap between the drop rail and the mattress. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. "That was the worst day ever," said Nicola. "There's nothing that can describe how we were feeling that day." The Johns sued Simplicity. But, while the CPSC investigated the matter, they didn't inspect the crib, and the investigator's report failed to identify the crib's manufacturer or model. The recall didn't come until two-and-a-half years later after the infant death incident described by ABC News. The cribs were made in China by a Kansas City Star article says consumer experts are downplaying the China link because "the crib recall appeared to result more from poor design than from manufacturing errors." Permalink | Our News Feeds