The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced last week the largest recall of child cribs in American history. More than 1.2 million drop-side cribs have been recalled in the U.S., as well as an additional 1 million in Canada, due to at least four cases of suffocation that have been reported. These young children were killed due to part of the crib that slides up and down, supposedly allowing easier access for the parents to remove the children.
Stork Craft is the company responsible for the manufacturing of these cribs, and more than 150,000 of the child beds are also sold under the Fisher Price brand name. The Canadian-based Stork Craft is no stranger to recalls and accusations of unsafe child products. Earlier this year, the company faced another recall in which more than 500,000 cribs were cited for child safety issues. The problem with the drop-side cribs that are currently being recalled is that the poor design and construction allows for a space to be created between the child’s mattress and the railing. Because of this, the child’s head can get lodged in that space, leading to suffocation and death.
The CPSC is currently determining whether or not it should impose a complete ban on the manufacture and distribution of drop-side cribs. At least 110 incidents of drop-side detachment have been reported in the U.S. and Canada, with 67 of those cases occurring in the U.S. and the rest in Canada. Stork Craft is currently providing a free repair kit for consumers who have purchased any of the recalled models, and the CPSC strongly urges consumers to immediately stop using the specific cribs until consumers have received the repair kit. The Commission also strongly recommends that no repair attempts should be made on the Stork Craft cribs without the company-provided repair kit.