Crib Manufacturers

Federal regulators recently recalled about 1 million cribs manufactured by Simplicity Inc. because the drop rail on some of the most popular models of the nation can detach from the crib, creating a dangerous gap that has led to death at least three children.

On September 21, 2007, following an investigation by the Chicago Tribune, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall of cribs sold under the Simplicity and Graco name. It is the largest recall of cribs since the agency was created in the 1970s. The agency initially said it was aware of two deaths in cribs with older hardware manufactured style where the drop was mounted on the side of the head down. One of these children is a 6-month in Georgia, the other was a 9-month appointment, Liam Johns. After further investigation, it became clear that the third child died following an accident involving the boxes are badly designed.

The CPSC is warning parents and caregivers to check all Simplicity cribs and Graco to make sure the drop side is installed right and warns that consumers who have one of the cribs cited in the recall should contact Simplicity (888-593-9274) to obtain a repair kit with new hardware. If the bed has new hardware consumers should still check the crib's drop rail to ensure it is assembled in place.

The recall affects a number of models of cribs manufactured by Simplicity Inc., sold under both the Simplicity and Graco brand names.

The recalled models are -

* Simplicity brand models:
* Aspen 3 in 1
* Aspen 4 in 1
* Nursery-in-a-Box
* Langer Crib N
* Chelsea
* Pooh 4 in 1
* Models of Graco brand:
* Aspen 3 in 1
* 3 in 1 Ultra
* 4 in 1 Ultra
* Ultra 5 in 1
* Whitney
* Trio

After the initial recall, crib recall caused more noise, as a member of Congress demanded to know why the CPSC had delayed so long to order the recall, since the first incident involving the dangerous cells may have occurred when 2004. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) asked the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission to explain why the Agency has taken over two years and the deaths of three children before recalling one million beds for the design and material defects. The investigation into the CPCS's response remains underway.

Given the seriousness of the recall, many parents immediately followed the instructions in the CPSC to contact Simplicity Inc. on the acquisition of new equipment. The CPSC also said that parents should not let children sleep in cribs for "one more night." However, in the weeks following the recall, it became clear that simplicity can be provide parents with the resources necessary to ensure their cribs are safe. Parents who request Simplicity, Inc. following the instructions to order a repair kit for recalled cribs have these kits are not so easy to find. In fact, the simplicity does not even repair kits ready.

More than two weeks after the recall notice came out, simplicity is said to parents worried that there might be three to four weeks for a repair kit to resolve defects in the boxes. That's because the CPSC allowed the company to issue the recall prior to designing and manufacturing the kits. The CPSC said that this was necessary because of the immediate danger posed by the hazardous cribs.

Even worse, parents who have asked the simple repair kits overnight saying they were not told that the kits are not ready. Rather, simplicity is the sending of spare parts that do not even include installation instructions. Apparently, replacement parts may not even have been approved by the CPSC.

Si