Deaths of Two Infants Lead to Recall of Nearly 1.6 Million Delta Cribs and 2 Thousand Playkids Convertible Cribs
The deaths of two infants that were caused by defective cribs have led to two nationwide crib recalls this month. Last week, Playkids USA recalled 2,000 portable convertible cribs following the death of a 5-month-old baby who suffocated after becoming entrapped between the crib’s mattress and drop side rail.
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the mesh that the sides of the convertible crib are made of can expand and create a space that a baby could slip into and become entrapped in and/or suffocate.
The second recall, which the CPSC announced on Monday, involves 1,585,000 Delta Enterprise drop side cribs. The voluntary recall comes after reports that an 8-month-old baby suffocated to death and another baby survived an entrapment accident.
The Delta drop side crib recall involves 985,000 drop side cribs that are missing safety pegs. The remaining 600,000 cribs are being recalled because of a spring peg failure. Both defects can cause a crib’s drop side to disengage and detach, which could leave a dangerous gap for kids to fall into.
The two recalls come on the heels of last month’s massive recall of 600,000 Simplicity Brand Drop Side Cribs following reports of nine incidents involving the drop sides detaching. No one was injured.
The recalls have spurred the CPSC to warn parents that they must closely inspect a crib’s hardware and stability. The CPSC says that drop side cribs are the infant beds that are most likely to experience hardware issues.
Safety Tips that the CPSC Offers Include:
• Do not use a crib that has broken, loose, or missing pieces.
• Regularly inspect crib hardware and make sure that the crib continues to stay sturdy.
• If you have a drop side crib, check to see that the drop side is working properly.
• Make sure that there are no gaps in or around the crib that a child can fall into.
• Do not try to fix a defective crib without following manufacturer-directed repair instructions.
• If the side of a crib is broken, leaning the crib against the wall will not fix the problem.
The last couple of years have seen an increase in the number of defective infant product recalls. Product manufacturers should be held accountable for any personal injuries or wrongful deaths caused by their products.
Latest crib recall broadens CPSC's focus, ChicagoTribune.com, October 22, 2008
Infant Death Prompts Recall to Repair 985,000 Delta Enterprise Drop Side Cribs; Missing Safety Pegs Can Cause Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards, CPSC.gov, October 21, 2008
Infant Death Prompts Recall To Repair 600,000 Drop Side Cribs By Delta Enterprise; Spring Peg Failure Can Cause Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards, CPSC.gov, October 21, 2008
Infant Death Prompts Recall of Convertible Cribs by Playkids USA; Crib Poses Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards, CPSC.gov, October 16, 2008
Simplicity Brand Drop Side Cribs Recalled By Various Retailers Due To Serious Entrapment And Suffocation Hazard To Infants and Toddlers, CPSC.gov, September 17, 2008
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