Crib Recall Came Too Late for Many Children

Since 2007, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has forced the recall of 4.6 million cribs made by several companies. By that time at least 13 children had died in cribs and bassinets made by just one of these manufacturers: Simplicity, Inc.

Babies can suffocate in Simplicity drop-side cribs when the plastic hardware breaks or deforms, creating a gap between the drop side and the mattress. A baby's head can get caught in the gap, which can lead to suffocation. Cribs made by a dozen other companies pose similar hazards. The problem is so prevalent that Consumer Reports suggests that parents should buy new stationary-side cribs.

Crib recalls have been issued for other reasons as well, including choking hazards, danger of laceration when fingers get trapped in folding drop gates, and non-compliance with safety standards.

Although new cribs must meet federal safety standards, manufacturers are not mandated to follow stricter voluntary guidelines set by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). Only about one-third of crib manufacturers submit their cribs for JPMA testing. (For more information about the association, visit www.jpma.org.)

"Lives could be saved if only the public were more aware of the dangers posed by many types of consumer products," says Personal Injury attorney Howard Krepack. "Although government recalls of unsafe products are designed to alert the public, recall information is unfortunately not made known in a timely and effective manner."

The CPSC is urging consumers, day-care providers, thrift-store operators and online sellers to make sure they don't have any of the dangerous products.