Product Hazards
Cribs
More infants die every year in cribs than from any other nursery product. In the last 20 years 1,100 children have died
from crib related injuries. Nearly 10,000 children are rushed to emergency rooms with injuries and an average of 22 children die each
year in unsafe cribs.
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Simplicity has announced a recall of one million cribs sold under the Graco and Simplicity names. Hardware and assembly
problems have led to three deaths, seven entrapment injuries and 55 reports of side rail detachment. This is the fourth Simplicity recall in the past three
years including 2 others for cribs involved in this recall.
Aspen 3 in 1 Crib by Simplicity because of loose screws
on the wooden mattress supports that allowed a portion of the mattress to fall, posing a suffocation hazard to young children. At least one child has died.
Nursery in a box by Simplicity because of faulty instructions that allow the product to
be misassembled.
Lancaster Cribs because of chipping paint.
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Recalls and corrective actions for cribs have been issued for various reasons including non-compliance with safety standards;
strangulation hazards; risk of head entrapment when side rails, spindles, and slats in side rails become loose; risk of suffocation;
choking hazards; risk of falling; and danger of laceration when fingers become trapped in folding drop gates.
Although mandatory standards exist for cribs, there are no requirements that manufacturers test for safety or certify that they meet standards, so unsafe cribs continue to make it onto store shelves and into homes. Most cribs produced before 1990 do not meet current safety standards. All cribs must include proper assembly instructions and diagrams as well as cautionary and warning labels as required by federal law.
When choosing a crib, be sure that:
· A soda can cannot pass between any of the slats of the crib
· There are no corner post extensions or decorative cut-outs on the crib
· Hardware (screws and bolts) which secure crib components are not loose or missing
· Crib is free of protruding rivets, metal nuts or bolts, knobs, and wing nuts
· Mattress is tight-fitting; 2 fingers cannot fit between the mattress and crib’s side
· Joints and parts fit tightly, and wood is smooth and free of splinters
· There is no cracked or peeling paint, and all painted surfaces are lead-free
· Drop side rails lock properly and securely when in raised position
· Lowered crib sides are at least 9 inches above the mattress support
· Raised crib sides are at least 26 inches above the mattress support in the lowest position
When using a crib, be sure to:
· Read directions for set up, use, and care of the crib. Replacement instructions can be obtained from the manufacturer.
· Remove all soft bedding such as pillows, blankets, bumper pads, and stuffed toys
· Use sheets that are tight-fitting
· Check that mattress support hangers do not become disconnected from head/footboards
· Position mobiles or hanging crib toys out of child’s reach and remove when child starts to push up into a sitting or standing position.
· Never hang anything on or above the crib with ribbon or string
· Drop mattress to the lowest position when child can pull themselves up
· Stop using a crib with loose or missing attachments or support hardware and contact the manufacturer for replacement hardware.
Crib recalls in 2005 hit an all time high. A record number of cribs were recalled in 2005 with a total of over 130,000 units. Of these 7 recalls, 2 came from Delta Enterprise Corporation and 2 from Simplicity Inc.
The types of hazards found in this year’s recalled cribs include loose mattress supports that allowed portions of mattresses to fall, posing suffocation hazards to young children. Crib slats separating from headboards and gaps between side rails and crib mattress supports created additional entrapment hazards. Other recalls were due to spindles loosening and detaching, posing dangers of falls and entrapment; paint containing high levels of lead; and chipping paint posing a choking hazard.
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