Crib Recall: Did Government Move Too Slowly?

Nov. 25, 2009— -- Parents are fuming over Monday's recall of 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-down side cribs, and a few are calling for all drop-side cribs to be banned.

And some say the recall is a frightening indication of inadequate safety testing of baby products including cribs, high chairs and strollers.

"Most parents are not aware that there was no requirement that the products be tested for safety before they were sold," said Nancy Cowles, who runs an child advocacy group called Kids in Danger.

That's not to say that safety and testing protocols do not already exist. In addition to requirements for the minimum height of adjustable rails, the Consumer Product Safety Commission maintains guidelines for the spacing and strength of the rails of these cribs. And last year, Congress passed a law requiring manufacturers to have their products safety-tested by an independent third party.

But consumer groups say the CPSC has not yet been able to push through tougher inspection requirements.

CPSC chairman Inez Tenenbaum told The Associated Press Tuesday that the agency didn't move quickly enough to issue the recall. Now, the CPSC is thinking of stiffening requirements.

"This company worked with us to put this recall together," CPSC spokeswoman Patty Davis said. But, Davis said in light of the recent problems, "The CPSC staff is looking at beefing up the standards."

The Stork Craft recall of cribs distributed between 1993 and 2009 is the largest crib recall in U.S. history, but not the first.

Three companies have issued major recalls of drop-side cribs over the past two years. In each recall, problems with the movable, drop-down side led to babies slipping and suffocating between the crib wall and the mattress.