One Million Simplicity Cribs Recalled

Sept. 21, 2007 — -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today a voluntary recall of about 1 million Simplicity cribs because of design failures that could result in 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, according to the CPSC.

At least two infants, a 6-month-old and a 9-month-old, have died in Simplicity-manufactured cribs that had older-style hardware in which the drop side was installed upside down, according to the CPSC.

The CPSC is aware of seven infant entrapments and 55 incidents in these cribs, and 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.

The commission warns parents and caregivers to check all Simplicity cribs to make sure the drop side is installed right side up.

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 in 1, 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.

As an immediate precaution, consumers should check to see if 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 that 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.