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crib recall!
NBC, msnbc.com and news services
updated 4:08 p.m. PT, Mon., Nov . 23, 2009
Government safety regulators say more than 2.1 million drop-side cribs by Stork Craft Manufacturing are being recalled, the biggest crib recall in U.S history.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the recall involves 1.2 million cribs in the United States and almost 1 million in Canada, where Stork Craft is based.
Nearly 150,000 of the cribs on recall carry the Fisher-Price logo.
The agency is aware of four deaths of young children who suffocated in the cribs, which have a side that moves up and down to allow parents to lift children from the cribs more easily.
The Stork Craft cribs have had problems with their hardware, which can break, or with assembly mistakes by the crib owner.
The danger is that a child's head can get caught between the mattress and the side railing, if it separates from the crib.
This is not the first time cribs have been recalled due to such fears. Nearly 5 million cribs by several manufacturers have been recalled over the past two years, including half a million from Stork Craft earlier this year, and the CPSC has considered banning drop-down sides altogether.
"Drop-side cribs, because of the amount of hardware that's involved, because it weakens the structure of the crib itself have been involved in numerous deaths and injuries, crib failures where the side may come loose or come off," said Nancy Cowles, of the advocacy group Kids in Danger.
Stork Craft is one of the most widely purchased brand names in baby cribs, with products sold at some of the biggest retailers in the country, including Target, WalMart, Sears and Kmart.
CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs, wait for the free repair kit and avoid attempting to fix the cribs without the kit. They should find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side.
The cribs, which were manufactured and distributed between January 1993 and October 2009, sold for between $100 and $400, and were made in Canada, China and Indonesia.
The manufacture date, model number, crib name, country of origin, and the firm's name, address and contact information are located on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board. The firm's insignia "storkcraft baby" or "storkling" is inscribed on the drop-side teething rail of some cribs.
The cribs’ drop-side plastic hardware can break or deform, or parts can become missing. In addition, the drop-side can be installed upside-down, which can result in broken or disengaged plastic parts. All of these problems can cause the drop-side to detach in one or more corners. When the drop-side detaches, it creates space between the drop-side and the crib mattress. The bodies of infants and toddlers can become entrapped in the space, which can lead to suffocation. Complete detachment of drop-sides also can lead to falls from the crib.
CPSC, Health Canada and Stork Craft are aware of 110 incidents of drop-side detachment; 67 incidents occurred in the United States and 43 in Canada. The incidents include 15 entrapments, 12 in the U.S. and three in Canada. Four of the entrapments resulted in suffocation: a 7-month-old in Gouverneur, N.Y.; a 7-month-old in New Iberia, La.; a 6-month-old in Summersville, W.Va.; and a 9-month-old in Bronx, N.Y. Another 20 babies have fallen from their cribs.
Meanwhile, safety experts caution that cribs often stay in homes for generations. If you have one of the cribs in your basement that's been recalled in recent years, fix it or get rid of it. The full list of crib recalls is on the CPSC Web site.
updated 4:08 p.m. PT, Mon., Nov . 23, 2009
Government safety regulators say more than 2.1 million drop-side cribs by Stork Craft Manufacturing are being recalled, the biggest crib recall in U.S history.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the recall involves 1.2 million cribs in the United States and almost 1 million in Canada, where Stork Craft is based.
Nearly 150,000 of the cribs on recall carry the Fisher-Price logo.
The agency is aware of four deaths of young children who suffocated in the cribs, which have a side that moves up and down to allow parents to lift children from the cribs more easily.
The Stork Craft cribs have had problems with their hardware, which can break, or with assembly mistakes by the crib owner.
The danger is that a child's head can get caught between the mattress and the side railing, if it separates from the crib.
This is not the first time cribs have been recalled due to such fears. Nearly 5 million cribs by several manufacturers have been recalled over the past two years, including half a million from Stork Craft earlier this year, and the CPSC has considered banning drop-down sides altogether.
"Drop-side cribs, because of the amount of hardware that's involved, because it weakens the structure of the crib itself have been involved in numerous deaths and injuries, crib failures where the side may come loose or come off," said Nancy Cowles, of the advocacy group Kids in Danger.
Stork Craft is one of the most widely purchased brand names in baby cribs, with products sold at some of the biggest retailers in the country, including Target, WalMart, Sears and Kmart.
CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs, wait for the free repair kit and avoid attempting to fix the cribs without the kit. They should find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side.
The cribs, which were manufactured and distributed between January 1993 and October 2009, sold for between $100 and $400, and were made in Canada, China and Indonesia.
The manufacture date, model number, crib name, country of origin, and the firm's name, address and contact information are located on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board. The firm's insignia "storkcraft baby" or "storkling" is inscribed on the drop-side teething rail of some cribs.
The cribs’ drop-side plastic hardware can break or deform, or parts can become missing. In addition, the drop-side can be installed upside-down, which can result in broken or disengaged plastic parts. All of these problems can cause the drop-side to detach in one or more corners. When the drop-side detaches, it creates space between the drop-side and the crib mattress. The bodies of infants and toddlers can become entrapped in the space, which can lead to suffocation. Complete detachment of drop-sides also can lead to falls from the crib.
CPSC, Health Canada and Stork Craft are aware of 110 incidents of drop-side detachment; 67 incidents occurred in the United States and 43 in Canada. The incidents include 15 entrapments, 12 in the U.S. and three in Canada. Four of the entrapments resulted in suffocation: a 7-month-old in Gouverneur, N.Y.; a 7-month-old in New Iberia, La.; a 6-month-old in Summersville, W.Va.; and a 9-month-old in Bronx, N.Y. Another 20 babies have fallen from their cribs.
Meanwhile, safety experts caution that cribs often stay in homes for generations. If you have one of the cribs in your basement that's been recalled in recent years, fix it or get rid of it. The full list of crib recalls is on the CPSC Web site.
i just looked into our crib and found out it is a stork craft does anyone know how to find out how to look up to see if its my crib like model number i went onto the stork craft website and registered my crib to see if my crib is part of that one but i am so scared as i am scheduled to be induced in 1 week i would like to know if my crib is involved in those recalled its has me really nervous
I have not heard of the Kolcraft but they did mention that some of them have Fisher Price on them. I never knew cribs had that on them! But like others ahve said I would aviod all drop side cribs! They are goign to change the laws on cribs soon and might outlaw them. I hope so ther are no more deaths or accidents! We should all buy fixed sides for sure
i was wondering is it just the storkcraft that is the recall or is it also kolcraft as well the name is so similar i just want to be careful about this as its the main place he will be sleeping in less than a month
Yes, you cant get on the website and you cant get through to the number given, however, I had to order replacement brackets for Sarah's crib a couple months ago, and I had the email saved from their parts dept.
It is parts @ stockcraft. com (take the spaces out)
I too have been trying to call as well since I need the kit for Sarah's crib and the new babys crib!
It is parts @ stockcraft. com (take the spaces out)
I too have been trying to call as well since I need the kit for Sarah's crib and the new babys crib!
It was really scary to hear about, because My youngest son slept in one of the cribs they featured in the video! thankfully nothing happened, and the cheap thing broke when i went to take it apart anyway, so no more slide side crappy cribs for me! good thing i saw this before my new one is born!
We have a dropside crib...and I think it may even be Storkcraft - we're going to check tonight. :-( DS used it for 2 years without any issue....but if it turns out that we do have one of the recalled ones, we won't be taking any chances with it.
The website is jammed (I can't even get on) and I heard the phone line is just as bad - you can't get through. Even though baby isn't here yet - I'm 31 weeks prg. - I don't feel good about waiting for a repair kit....we'll likely just be getting a brand new one.
The website is jammed (I can't even get on) and I heard the phone line is just as bad - you can't get through. Even though baby isn't here yet - I'm 31 weeks prg. - I don't feel good about waiting for a repair kit....we'll likely just be getting a brand new one.
Just heard about this. I have a storkcraft for Sarah and the new baby.......now have to order repair kits!
From the time my kids were little this brand was recalled the most! I have never bought one and I am glad that Babies R US as of next month ( I think it is) will only be selling fixed side cribs. I have been looking into Ikea cribs myself. These have been sold in the us for a few years with no problem or recall becasue they are fixed sides. Other countries have not been allowed to sell drop side cribs for a very long time. Why is it that the us is behind in so many things? Like cercumsition, VBAC's and cutting to cord to soon. We are ranked #41 in fetal and maternal deaths with births!!! That is horrible! Other countries view birth as natural and we do not as the medical filed see it as a medical condition. Sorry way off topic but the us needs to get their butts in gear!
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