Simplicity drop side cribs recalled because of suffocation risk
About 400,000 cribs were sold between January 2005 and June 2009
-- Kids Today, 7/2/2009 7:45:00 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Simplicity Drop Side Cribs have been recalled because of a suffocation hazard.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation Simplicity, has announced a voluntary recall of about 400,000 cribs. Consumers should stop using the cribs immediately.
The cribs were imported/distributed by Simplicity Inc. and SFCA Inc. of Reading, Penn., firms which appear to no longer conduct day-to-day operations.
The hazard is that the crib’s plastic hardware can break or deform, causing the drop side to detach. When that happens, 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.
An 8-month-old child in Houston died after becoming 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.
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, manufactured 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 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.
For images of the crib and the hazard, click here.
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