Shermag Drop-Side Crib Recall Issued After Reports of Hardware Failure

About 3,100 Shermag drop-side cribs are being recalled after reports suggest the hardware may be prone to fail, posing a serious and potentially life-threatening risk for infants. 

The Shermag drop-side crib recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on September 29, after the commission and the manufacturer received at least 21 reports of incidents where the drop-sides detached from the crib or otherwise failed.

While there have been no injuries reported in association with the recalled Shermag cribs, hardware problems with drop-side cribs made by a number of different companies have been associated with an alarming number of infant deaths and other injuries in recent years, leading the CPSC to recently ban the manufacture and sale of all drop-side crib designs.

If the drop-side rail hardware fails, the side can detach, leaving a gap in which an infant can become entrapped and potentially suffocate or strangle. A broken drop side could also allow a child to fall out of the crib unexpectedly and suffer injury.

This latest recall affects about 2,300 Shermag drop-side cribs sold in the U.S. and about 800 sold in Canada separately or as part of the “City Lights,” “Fairy Tales” and “Dormez Vous” furniture collections. The recalled cribs have the model numbers 202647, 211047 and 272547, which is located on stickers and warning labels on the crib’s headboard or footboard. The cribs will have “Shermag” printed on a tag on the mattress springs as well.

The cribs were sold at The Land of Nod and other baby specialty stores for between $400 and $800 from September 2004 through December 2008.

A drop-side crib ban enacted by the CPSC went into effect in June 2011, after the commission voted in December to stop the sale, resale and manufacture of all cribs featuring the drop-side design. The vote came after at least 32 infant and toddler deaths were associated with drop-side cribs since 2000.

The cribs are designed to allow easy access to the baby by having one side that can be unlocked and lowered. They have been particularly popular with shorter parents or those with back problems who have difficulty reaching over the rails of a standard crib.

Consumers with the recalled Shermag drop-side cribs should stop using them immediately and contact Shermag to receive a free repair kit. In the meantime they should make alternative sleeping arrangements for any child using the affected drop-side cribs.

Customers with questions can call Shermag at (800)567-3419 or visit the company’s website at www.shermag.com.