Simplicity Crib Recall

About 600,000 Simplicity Drop Side Cribs were recalled Wednesday by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with several retailers. The crib recall was issued due to a defect which could allow the drop side of the crib to detach, creating a hazardous gap that could allow an infant to become trapped or strangled.

The drop side cribs were manufactured by Simplicity, Inc. of Reading, Pennsylvania, which is no longer in business. Last month, about 900,000 Simplicity bassinets were recalled by retailers due to a risk of infant strangulation. The retailers agreed to accept returns after the U.S. CPSC was unable to obtain cooperation from SFCA, Inc., which is the company that purchased all of Simpliciy, Inc.’s assets at public auction in April 2008.

The Simplicity crib recall applies to models that were sold with model names such as Aspen and Crib N Changer Combo, Camille, Gabrielle, Shenandoah and Providence. However, the label on the headboard displays only the “Simplicity” brand name.

The cribs contain a sizing problem with the hardware, which could allow the drop side to come off of the tracks and detach or partially detach from the crib. This poses a serious risk of injury or death for any baby in the crib, as a large gap could result in which the infant’s head could become stuck.

Although no infant injuries have been associated with these Simplicity cribs, the U.S. CPSC and SFCA, Inc. are aware of at least nine incidents where the drop side detached on cribs that are part of this recall.

The Simplicity cribs were sold throughout the United States in children’s stores, department stores and mass merchandisers between January 2005 and August 2008 for prices between $150 and $300. The model numbers for the recalled Simplicity cribs include: 8620, 8745, 8748, 8755, 8756, 8778, 8810 and 8994. A label on the headboard just below the mattress support bears the date code which ends in 05GB, 05DH, 06GB, 06DH, 07GB or 07DH.

This is the third major Simplicity recall over the past 12 months.

In September 2007, approximately one million Simplicity cribs were recalled due to a similar problem caused by a different type of hardware. That crib recall, which was the largest in U.S. history, was associated with at least three infant deaths, 7 infant entrapments and 55 incidents with these cribs.

On August 28, 2008, a Simplicity bassinet recall was issued for 4-in-1 and 3-in-1 convertible close sleeper and bedside sleeper bassinets manufactured by Simplicity. These were sold under the Simplicity brand, as Graco bassinets and with “Winnie the Pooh” motifs. At least two infant deaths have been blamed on the defective Simplicity bassinets.

For this latest crib recall, consumers have been advised to immediately check their cribs and to stop using the drop side Simplicity cribs involved in this recall. A number of retailers have agreed to accept returns for refund or store credit, including: AAFES, Babies“R”Us, Burlington Coat Factory/Baby Depot, K’s Merchandise, Meijer Distribution Inc., Nebraska Furniture Mart, ShopKo, Target and Wal-Mart Stores .