Table of contents
- Latest Simplicity Graco Crib Recall Updates
- December 15, 2010: CPSC Votes to Ban Drop-Side Cribs
- May 7, 2010: CPSC Warns Again About Drop-Side Cribs
- April 29, 2010: LaJobi Graco-Branded Cribs Recalled
- April 29, 2010: All Simplicity Tubular-Frame Cribs Recalled
- December 18, 2009: Reported Deaths Reach 11
- July 2, 2009: About 400,000 Simplicity Drop-Side Cribs Recalled
- September 17, 2008: About 600,000 Simplicity Cribs Recalled
- September 21, 2007: About 1 Million Simplicity Cribs Recalled
- February 8, 2006: CPSC Renews Search for Graco-Logo Aspen Cribs
- December 21, 2005: About 104,000 Graco-Branded Aspen Cribs Recalled
- Which Simplicity & Graco Cribs Are Affected?
- Why Were the Simplicity & Graco Cribs Recalled?
- Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
- What Should Consumers Do?
- Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
- Legal Options
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Is It Illegal to Resell a Recalled Crib?
- Were Graco Cribs Recalled with Simplicity?
- Why Were Drop-Side Cribs Banned?
- How Many Drop-Side Cribs Have Been Recalled?
Simplicity cribs, including some sold with the Graco logo, were recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission from 2005 to 2010. The drop side can detach, or the mattress support can bend or collapse, trapping an infant and causing suffocation.
CPSC reannounced the 2005 and 2008 recalls. LaJobi’s Graco-branded drop-side cribs were recalled too. Simplicity Inc., its successor SFCA Inc. and LaJobi Inc. are no longer in business, so no remedy remains.
CPSC tells owners to stop using these cribs, not to repair them and to dispose of them. Do not donate or resell them, and report any injury to CPSC.
Latest Simplicity Graco Crib Recall Updates
December 15, 2010: CPSC Votes to Ban Drop-Side Cribs
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted unanimously to ban the manufacture, sale and resale of drop-side cribs, AP reported [1]. The new standard requiring fixed sides was set to take effect in June 2011.
May 7, 2010: CPSC Warns Again About Drop-Side Cribs
CPSC warned again about drop-side cribs in a news release [2]. Staff cited 32 infant and toddler deaths since January 2000 tied to drop-side detachments in cribs made by various manufacturers.
CPSC staff also reported 14 more infant deaths that could be related to a drop side. Staff said they cannot say that every drop-side crib is hazardous, but that drop-side hardware is prone to problems.
April 29, 2010: LaJobi Graco-Branded Cribs Recalled
CPSC announced the recall of about 217,000 Graco-branded drop-side cribs made by LaJobi Inc. of Cranbury, N.J. (recall 10-212) [3]. The cribs were sold from February 2007 to March 2010 for $140 to $200.
The notice says the firm is no longer in business and the recall remedy is no longer available. It tells owners to discard the cribs.
April 29, 2010: All Simplicity Tubular-Frame Cribs Recalled
CPSC announced the recall of all Simplicity tubular-frame cribs (recall 10-211) [4]. CPSC has limited information about how many cribs were sold. Walmart, Target, Babies R Us and other stores sold them.
December 18, 2009: Reported Deaths Reach 11
AP reported that CPSC said deaths linked to Simplicity cribs had risen to 11, as CBS News carried it [5]. CPSC was aware of 25 other incidents of drop-side parts detaching.
The most recent death was in September 2009, a 7-month-old from Princeton, Ky. Earlier recall announcements had reported four deaths.
July 2, 2009: About 400,000 Simplicity Drop-Side Cribs Recalled
CPSC announced a recall of about 400,000 Simplicity drop-side cribs (recall 09-260) [6]. The cribs were sold from January 2005 to June 2009. Owners were told to return the cribs for a refund, replacement or store credit.
September 17, 2008: About 600,000 Simplicity Cribs Recalled
CPSC and retailers announced the recall of about 600,000 Simplicity-brand drop-side cribs (release 08-401) [7]. The cribs were sold through August 2008.
September 21, 2007: About 1 Million Simplicity Cribs Recalled
CPSC and Simplicity Inc. announced the recall of about 1 million Simplicity cribs, including Graco-logo models (recall 07-307) [8]. The cribs were sold from January 1998 to May 2007. CPSC advised owners to dispose of the cribs.
February 8, 2006: CPSC Renews Search for Graco-Logo Aspen Cribs
A 19-month-old died on January 6, 2006. CPSC and Simplicity Inc. renewed the search for recalled Graco-logo Aspen 3 in 1 cribs (recall 06-086) [9].
The child became entrapped between the mattress and the footboard and suffocated. Simplicity Inc. offered a free repair kit to owners of these cribs.
December 21, 2005: About 104,000 Graco-Branded Aspen Cribs Recalled
CPSC and Simplicity Inc. announced the recall of about 104,000 Aspen 3 in 1 cribs sold under the Graco trademark (release 06-058) [10].
The screws on the wooden mattress support can come loose, allowing part of the mattress to fall. That poses a suffocation hazard. The cribs were sold from August 2003 to May 2005 for about $130.
Which Simplicity & Graco Cribs Are Affected?
These Simplicity and Graco-branded cribs were recalled between 2005 and 2010:
- 2005 and 2006: Aspen 3 in 1 cribs with the Graco logo, model 8740KCW SC, serial number 2803 SC to 1605 SC.
- 2007: Simplicity models 4600, 4605, 4705, 5000, 8000, 8324, 8800, 8740, 8910, 8994, 8050, 8750, 8760 and 8996, including Graco-logo Ultra, Whitney and Trio cribs.
- 2008: Simplicity drop-side models 8620, 8745, 8748, 8755, 8756, 8778, 8810 and 8994 with date codes ending 05DH, 05GB, 06DH, 06GB, 07DH or 07GB.
- 2009: Simplicity drop-side cribs with newer plastic hardware, including models 8050, 8325, 8620, 8745, 8748, 8755, 8756, 8765, 8778, 8810, 8994, 8995 and 8996.
- April 2010: all Simplicity full-size cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames, with any model number.
- April 2010: LaJobi Graco-branded drop-side cribs named Ashleigh, Hampton, Jason, Kendal, Lauren, Rachel, Sarah, Shannon and Tifton.
Find the model number on the envelope attached to the mattress support or on the label on the headboard. LaJobi cribs carry a label with the production date and item number on the footboard or headboard.
Why Were the Simplicity & Graco Cribs Recalled?
The cribs were recalled because the drop side can detach and create a dangerous gap where an infant can be entrapped and suffocate. On other models the mattress support can loosen, bend or collapse.
For the 2007 recall, CPSC found that the drop-side failures result from both the hardware and the crib design. These allow consumers to unintentionally install the drop side upside down, which can weaken the hardware.
In the same 2007 notice, CPSC also knew of two incidents where the drop side was correctly installed with older style hardware.
In May 2010, CPSC technical staff said drop-side hardware is prone to break, deform or have other problems during normal use. They said drop-side cribs tend to be less structurally sound than cribs with four fixed sides.
Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
Each CPSC notice reports its own figures, which should not be added together. Reports do not prove that the crib caused every incident.
- 2005 recall: Simplicity Inc. received 14 reports of the mattress support coming loose, including eight entrapments. Five injuries included scratches, bruises and a strained neck.
- 2007 recall: CPSC knew of two deaths, seven infant entrapments and 55 incidents.
- 2008 recall: nine incidents of the drop side detaching, with no injuries.
- 2009 recall: one death, an 8-month-old from Houston, Texas, and 25 more incidents. Two children became entrapped.
- April 2010 Simplicity recall: one death of a one-year-old in North Attleboro, Mass., and 13 more incidents, including minor cuts to the head.
- April 2010 LaJobi recall: 99 reports, two entrapments and six falls, including one mild concussion.
What Should Consumers Do?
If you own or inherited one of these cribs, take these steps:
- Compare your crib’s model number and label with the recalled models listed above.
- Stop using the crib at once and find another safe sleeping place for the baby.
- Do not try to fix the crib with tape, wire or rope. Infants and toddlers have died in cribs with makeshift repairs.
- Dispose of the crib. Do not donate or resell it.
- Know that no company remedy remains. Repair kits are no longer available, and Simplicity, SFCA and LaJobi are out of business.
- Call the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270) or visit www.SaferProducts.gov to report a dangerous product or an injury.
Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
In Canada, Health Canada announced a recall of Graco-brand drop-side cribs made by LaJobi, as AP and CBC reported on April 29, 2010 [11].
It covered about 5,180 units of the Hampton Drop Side Hickory model 3080136 and Sarah Drop Side Espresso model 3000136. They were sold from February 2008 to April 2010.
Other crib makers have recalled products too. See the Bassett Baby crib recall for a different crib hazard and its recall details.
Legal Options
Families whose child was hurt in a recalled Simplicity or Graco-branded crib can ask for an individual case review. No lawsuit, class action or MDL names these cribs, and a recall does not automatically establish liability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Illegal to Resell a Recalled Crib?
It is illegal to resell a recalled consumer product, the 2005 CPSC notice says. A CPSC spokesman urged parents in April 2010 not to resell any Simplicity crib to a thrift store, at a yard sale or online.
Were Graco Cribs Recalled with Simplicity?
Yes, some Graco-logo cribs were recalled with Simplicity. CPSC said, “Although the Graco logo appears on these products, the cribs were manufactured by Simplicity Inc.” LaJobi made separate Graco-branded drop-side cribs recalled in April 2010.
Why Were Drop-Side Cribs Banned?
Drop-side cribs were banned after the deaths of more than 30 infants and toddlers in the past decade, AP reported. The new standard also adds tougher testing and better labeling, AP reported.
How Many Drop-Side Cribs Have Been Recalled?
How many drop-side cribs have been recalled depends on the recall. CPSC staff said in May 2010 that the last five years brought 11 recalls involving more than 7 million drop-side cribs from various makers. Simplicity unit counts differ and are not summed.