Simplicity drop side cribs recalled for suffocation risk

[MuffyBee]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CRIB_RECALL?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US
Jul 2, 12:06 PM EDT

Cribs recalled for suffocation risk

By NATASHA T. METZLER
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- About 400,000 Simplicity drop side cribs were recalled Thursday for posing a suffocation hazard.

The Chinese-made crib's hardware can break or deform, allowing the drop side to detach. This creates a gap between the mattress and the side of the crib, where a small child could be trapped and suffocate, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The agency previously reported the death of an 8-month-old child from Houston, who suffocated when some of the plastic hardware on his crib broke and created a gap.

Last September, Simplicity recalled about 600,000 drop side cribs with similar defects. In 2007, the company recalled 1 million older model drop side cribs after two children became trapped and suffocated. The death of the 8-month-old from Houston was reported then, but the exact defect in his newer model crib was unknown at the time.

"If you have a Simplicity drop side crib, it has been recalled," said agency spokeswoman Patty Davis. She urged crib owners to go to the commission's Web site to see what actions to take next. But she cautioned parents not to put their children in any Simplicity drop side cribs at this point.

"We're glad that they finally finished the recalls of the drop sides," said Nancy Cowles, executive director of Chicago-based Kids In Danger. But she expressed concern that the cribs recalled Thursday were sold through last month even though there had been repeated recalls of Simplicity cribs.

"Everyone kind of knew that they were seeing the same problems with these products," she said.

Cribs that were fixed after the 2007 recall to hold the drop side in place are safe, according to the CPSC. But cribs recalled Thursday or last September do not have a fix and can be returned to the place of purchase for a refund, replacement or store credit.

For details, call the CPSC at 800-638-2772.

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[2NJSons_Mom]

August 20, 2009


2 more infants trapped, killed in bassinets

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Government safety officials are once again warning parents about Simplicity bassinets after two infants were trapped and killed.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Thursday that two young children died after getting trapped in previously recalled Simplicity close-sleeper/beside sleeper bassinets.

If the fabric velcro-fastened flap covering the metal bars of the bassinets are not properly adjusted, it can create a dangerous sleeping situation.

In September 2008, a two-month-old girl suffocated when she became trapped in a pocket of fabric, which was not properly secured to the bassinet. In January 2009, a six-month-old girl died when she got trapped between the bars of her bassinet when the flap was undone.

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 http://www.app.com/article/20090820/NEWS/90820067/1001/rss
 

[MuffyBee]

Picture of the Simplicity drop side crib:



http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/consumer/dpg_simplicity_bassinet_lwf_082009_3066510

[MuffyBee]

http://tinyurl.com/yzfoum4

11 baby deaths now linked to Simplicity cribs
  By CHRISTINE SIMMONS, Associated Press Writer Christine Simmons, Associated Press Writer   – 41 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Despite several recalls and warnings, the number of reported baby deaths linked to defective Simplicity cribs is now up to 11.

The most recent death occurred in September when a 7-month-old child from Princeton, Ky., became entrapped in the crib when a part of it broke, said the Consumer Product Safety Commission on Thursday.

The agency also said it's aware of another 25 incidents involving drop-side parts detaching from Simplicity cribs.

The recall of Simplicity-manufactured cribs began in December 2005. More than 2 million Simplicity drop-side cribs have been recalled so far because of problems with their plastic hardware. Some of the recalled cribs have the Graco logo and Winnie the Pooh motif.

The crib's hardware can break or deform, causing the drop side to detach. This detachment creates a space between the drop side and crib mattress that babies can roll into and become entrapped, leading to suffocation risk.

The agency's announcement on Thursday that 11 babies have died was a big jump from earlier recall announcements that reported only three baby deaths.

The agency has previously announced that a 9-month-old child and a 6-month-old child had died when the drop side was installed upside down. The agency had also announced the death of an 8-month-old child from Houston who became entrapped and suffocated between the drop side and the crib mattress when a plastic connector on the drop side broke.

The agency announced the new death tally with another reminder to parents about the dangers of Simplicity cribs. Simplicity's assets were bought by SFCA Inc. last year but neither company appears to be conducting day-to-day operations.

The agency says caregivers should check their cribs to see whether they have a recalled Simplicity crib. If they do, consumers should stop using them immediately and should not attempt to fix the cribs.

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On the Net:

Consumer Product Safety Commission announcement: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/simplicity.pdf