The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled thousands of Simplicity and Graco cribs, warning that babies could suffocate or strangle in them. This is only the latest of a long string of drop side crib recalls, and brings into question the wisdom of buying any type of drop side crib. The agency said about 217,000 Graco drop side cribs made by LaJobi were also being recalled.
Simplicity has been the subject of almost a dozen recalls since 2005 and its cribs and bassinets have been linked to 13 deaths. Almost all Simplicity cribs have now been recalled, and the company is no longer in business. Consumers should be wary of purchasing a used Simplicity crib in a garage sale.
According to the CPSC, the hazard is that the drop side hardware can break or fail, allowing the drop side to detach from the crib. When the drop side detaches, a hazardous gap is created between the drop side and the crib mattress in which infants and toddlers can become wedged or trapped, posing a risk of suffocation and strangulation. In addition, children can fall from the cribs when the drop side detaches or fails to lock.
