More Drop Side Cribs Recalled After 104 Reports of Problems

After receiving more than 100 reports of problems with drop side cribs manufactured by C&T International/Sorelle, including incidents where the drop side or slats detached from the crib, creating a risk of suffocation or strangulation for infants, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has added about 170,000 drop side cribs to the growing list of cribs recalled in recent weeks.

The drop-side crib recall was announced on Thursday, indicating that at least six children have suffered injuries as a result of falling or becoming trapped as a result of the defective cribs. The cribs were sold by C&T/Sorelle between January 2000 and March 2010 for between $300 and $600. Prior to 2003, the company also distributed cribs under the Golden Baby, Inc. label.

About 170,000 wooden cribs, sold in natural, white and cherry finishes, are included in the recall. According to the CPSC, the cribs’ drop-side hardware can disengage from the tracks, causing the drop side to detach from the crib and create a dangerous space between the drop side and the mattress. Infants and toddlers can become trapped in this space, and similar problems with other drop-side cribs have been associated with serious injuries and even death.

This is the third major crib recall issued by CPSC in the last two weeks. On April 29, about 217,000 Graco drop-side cribs manufactured by LaJobi, Inc. were recalled after nearly 100 incidents with those cribs. That same day, the CPSC announced the recall of all Simplicity full-size cribs, including both drop side and fixed-side cribs, that contain a tubular metal mattress-support frame. At least one child has died and the CPSC is aware of at least 13 other incidents where the Simplicity cribs collapsed due to the metal mattress support frame bending or detaching.

Although all Simplicity drop-side cribs were previously recalled due to problems with the drop side, many of these recalled cribs may still be in use by parents who are unaware of the problems or those who received a repair kit to convert the cribs to fixed-side cribs while Simplicity was still in business.

The CPSC has urged parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs and to find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for infants and toddlers who were using any of these cribs.