Nov 23, 2009 5:48 pm US/Central
Recall Of 2.1 Million Cribs Announced
Largest Crib Recall In U.S. History Might Also Prompt Ban Of Dropdown Side Cribs
(CBS)
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CBS News has learned that the Consumer Product Safety Commission is about to announce one of the largest crib recalls in United States history, involving cribs with dropdown sides, fearing they may be unsafe, even deadly. (File)
AP
It's the largest crib recall in U.S. history. The
Consumer Products Safety Commission has announced the recall of 2.1 million dropdown side cribs, fearing they may be unsafe, or even deadly.
The recall involves multiple models made by Stork Craft between January 1993 and October 2009 -- all dropdown side cribs -- 147,000 of them with the Fisher Price logo. Malfunctioning plastic hardware is to blame. Parents are being told to stop using the cribs immediately and go to the
Stork Craft website to obtain a repair kit that converts the dropdown sides to fixed sides.
CPSC: Information on Models, Where Sold And When
The CPSC said that until their Stork Craft cribs can be repaired, parents should find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby.
CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports the recall might even signal a ban of these types of cribs in the future.
Mark Lazar said he thinks that will happen. His family has been in the baby furniture business for 92 years.
Lazar said that controversy and past recalls over drop-down sides has manufacturers moving away from making them at all. Lazar said that even though most of those cribs are safe, there's no point in making dropdown side cribs if there is any risk of danger or if customers are afraid of them.
But Michele Witte hopes there's a ban. Her 10-month-old son Tyler Jonathon suffocated after the dropdown side of his crib came loose. She's been fighting against that feature ever since.
"We cannot have a crib that takes the lives of infants out there on the market for unknowing reasons,
Witte said.
The concern with those cribs is that the hardware on the dropdown side may come loose, creating a gap and then trapping a baby. That's what happened to Tyler Jonathon.
The Chairman of the Consumer Products Safety Commission said there's been talk about the potential risks of dropdown sides for some time.
"Parents like the convenience of having the side drop down," CPSC Chair Inez Tenenbaum noted, adding the hardware used by many manufacturers to make the sides drop isn't "substantial."
Tenenbaum explained that, "We have been relying on voluntary standards," for crib safety but, "We find that is no longer enough. ... We will now be writing. ... (proposing) federal regulations that are mandatory for cribs."
But instead of just focusing on one crib manufacturer, advocates for safe children's products said this recall could target several.
"We don't know today," said Kids in Danger Executive Director Nancy Cowles.
But if children's lives are at risk, shouldn't we know?
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said that although it is disconcerting to hear of the pending recall, there is a process the CPSC must go through to make sure all companies impacted by it are ready to handle or fix the problem.
In the meantime, she and Cowles said that parents should check the make and model of their cribs and check all of the hardware. If it's loose or eroded, consider making alternate sleeping arrangements until more recall information is available. Otherwise, wait to see if your crib is on the list.
Millions of cribs have been recalled over the past several years, many with dropdown sides. But shop owners were quick to point out that there are millions of dropdown side cribs that are safe, so don't panic.
The CPSC said it has no doubt that dangerous and recalled cribs are being used in homes right now in America.
"Early Show" Consumer Correspondent Susan Koeppen said CBS News is waiting to hear more about the crib recall, and the specific cribs involved, and expects to have more on the recall on "The Early Show" on Tuesday.
Koeppen advised that parents who have a crib in their home that has dropdown sides check to see whether it's already been recalled. The CPSC suggested checking the hardware to see if it seems solid. Feel the side rail: If you can move it back and forth, that can be dangerous. And stop using the side rail; don't put it up and down anymore.
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