Simplicity Crib Recall 2009

Attention parents!

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the recall of the Simplicity drop-side crib. About one millions units are affected. So far, three children have died of suffocation.

The deaths occurred because the crib’s plastic hardware can wear down and deform causing the drop side to detach from the crib. When the drop side detaches, it creates a space between the drop side and the crib mattress. Unfortunately, that space is large enough for infants and toddlers to roll into and become trapped, which can then lead to suffocation.

CPSC is 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. The child’s death was previously reported by CPSC.

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.

Simplicity, Inc. is listed as the manufacturer of the cribs, but apparently they were also sold under the Graco brand name. The recalled cribs in question were priced between $100 and $300 and were sold by U.S. retailers and chains including Target Corp., Big Lots Inc, Babies "R" Us and family-owned Meijer Inc. under the Simplicity or Graco brands, from January 1998 through May 2007.

In a separate recall in June, the commission recalled about 40,000 Nursery-in-a-Box cribs, manufactured by Simplicity, because the assembly instructions incorrectly explain how to attach the drop side.

The current recall involves several models and models numbers. This recall involves all drop side cribs with a different or "newer" style of hardware than those cribs originally recalled back in September of '07. This newer style of Simplicity hardware can be identified by a flexible plastic tab at the top of the lower tracks.

Recalled Simplicity crib models:

• Aspen 3 in 1
• Aspen 4 in 1
• Nursery-in-a-Box
• Crib N Changer Combo
• Chelsea
• Pooh 4 in 1

Recalled Graco crib models:

• Ultra 3 in 1
• Ultra 4 in 1
• Ultra 5 in 1
• Whitney
• Trio

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.