When it comes to your baby, safety should be your top priority. Everything you surround your little one with needs to be the safest possible space, and this includes baby cribs. Even if the crib you chose while your baby was a newborn checked out fine, problems are occasionally found, and recalls are issued. It's essential to stay on top of the latest recalls and other safety issues with cribs so you can make sure that your baby sleeps safely and soundly.
Finding Recalls
While most cribs are problem-free, some models feature faulty hardware or parts that can pose hazardous risks to infants and toddlers. When this occurs, manufacturers issue recalls that notify consumers of potentially serious injuries associated with particular crib models.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Crib Information Center provides the latest information about crib recalls and other product safety news. Signing up for e-mail alerts will help you stay on top of the latest recalls and safety issues related to cribs. You can also report safety incidents to the Crib Information Center.
In addition, filling out and registering the product safety information card when you buy a new crib will allow you to receive recall alerts by mail or e-mail.
Aside from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website, other sites offer information on product recalls that often include crib and infant mattress recalls.
- Consumer's Affairs - The Consumer's Affairs website lists infant products that have been recalled due to safety concerns.
- SafeKids.org - SafeKids.org is dedicated to listing all notable recalls for child-centric products. Users inquiring about a recall can easily go to the site, click on a particular year and even the month, to see which products were recalled in the time frame.
Buying a Crib
Even though cribs are expensive, it is best to buy a new crib for your baby. If you plan to use a used crib, get it from a reputable consignment shop or through a friend, and verify the crib has all of its pieces. Cribs missing slats, screws, or bolts or that are cracked are not safe for your baby to use. Always test a crib before you put your baby in it to make sure you're not putting your child at risk.
Why Cribs Get Recalled
Baby cribs get recalled when there are safety concerns with any part of the crib. Common reasons for a recall are:
- Crib slats or end panels create the possibility for a baby's head to become lodged and trapped, resulting in possible injury or death
- Concern with the stability of the slats
- Safety concerns with any mesh material included in the crib
- Faulty brackets needed to hold the crib together securely and safely
Crib safety is serious business. All cribs go through rigorous testing requirements that emulate common wear and tear that a crib will endure in its lifespan. These testing measures are used to determine if any of the crib parts have the possibility to loosen, break, or separate.
Notable Recalls
While many recalls are minor, some affect thousands of cribs and the families who bought them. Knowing about the major recalls can help you avoid purchasing a defective crib and may provide you with information about what types of cribs to avoid when looking for a new crib.
Drop-Side Crib Recalls and Other Crib and Furniture Recalls
Drop-side cribs were once popular because they made it easy to lift a baby in and out of the crib. Between 2009 and 2011, millions of drop-side cribs were recalled because the hardware used to hold up the movable panel on the crib could fail. Infants and toddlers could potentially become trapped and suffocate between the crib mattress and the detached drop-side. Thirty-two infant deaths resulted from faulty drop-sided cribs. A few of the more notable drop-side crib recalls include:
- In 2020, Serena & Lily recalled about 260 Nash convertible cribs due to potential injury hazards.
- In 2015, 18,000 DaVinci brand cribs were recalled due to laceration, fall, and entrapment concerns. This same year Baby's Dream recalled nearly 5,000 cribs and furniture pieces because of lead paint violations.
- In 2014, Bexco recalled Franklin and Ben Mason 4-in-1 convertible cribs because of fall and entrapment concerns.
- In 2012, over 16,000 Rockland Furniture Drop-Side cribs that were sold at JC Penny stores were recalled. The next year, Rockland Furniture Round Cribs were recalled due to entrapment, suffocation, and fall hazards.
- In March 2011, Delta Enterprise Corp. re-issued the 2008 recall of more than 985,000 crib models with the "Crib Trigger Lock and Safety Peg" hardware component.
- The Land of Nod, manufactured by Status Furniture, issued a recall of 300 "Rosebud" cribs. This model features a drop-side rail that has hardware known to occasionally break or fail.
- Pottery Barn recalled all drop-side cribs made from 1999-2010 because of entrapment, suffocation, and fall hazards.
- In October 2010, multiple manufacturers recalled cribs because of faulty drop-side hardware. The large recall included Victory Land Group for about 34,000 Heritage Collection 3-in-1 drop-side cribs, Angel Line for 3,400 Longwood Forest and Angel Line cribs, and 3,250 Ethan Allen drop-side cribs.
- The largest drop-side recall took place in June 2010, when the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled over 2 million drop-side cribs, including 750,000 Evenflo Jenny Lind cribs, 747,000 Delta Enterprise Corp. cribs, 306,000 LaJobi Bonavita, Babi Italia, and ISSI brand cribs, and 130,000 Jardine Enterprises cribs.
Companies such as Graco, Simplicity, and Stork Craft also recalled cribs because of the drop-side issue. As a result, many large corporations no longer manufacture or sell drop-side cribs, and the CPSC began to prohibit traditional drop-side cribs as of June 28, 2011.
Falling Mattress
A few different cribs have been recalled because of unstable mattress supports. When the mattresses fail, infants and toddlers can be badly injured or suffocate.
- In February 2011, IKEA issued a recall for more than 26,000 SNIGLAR cribs sold in the U.S. and Canada because some of the mattress bolts were not long enough to support the mattress, causing the mattress to detach and collapse.
- From 2007-2010, many Simplicity cribs were recalled because the mattress support frame could bend or collapse and cause a suffocation risk.
- In 2010, Delta Enterprise Corp. recalled cribs using a wooden stabilizer bar over concerns that the bar would not provide adequate stability and cause the mattress to collapse.
Choosing a stable and reliable crib mattress is as crucial to an infant's health as selecting the crib itself. Ensure that the mattress you select meets all safety requirements and doesn't have any recalls.
Fixing Recalled Cribs
Parents who learn that their cribs are affected by a recall should follow several steps to prevent injury or harm to their babies. First, immediately discontinue the use of a recalled crib. Check the crib to ensure it was installed correctly and to determine if you need updated hardware. Never try to repair a recalled crib yourself. Strictly follow the manufacturer or CPSC guidelines on what to do. Some companies will send you a free repair kit or replacement parts for the faulty hardware. After you've conducted the repairs, test it out before your baby uses it again.
Keeping Babies Safe, an organization dedicated to child product safety, notes that over 11 million cribs have been affected by recalls in just the last few years. The organization provides tips for parents who are using recalled cribs to help make babies safe, including only using manufacturer-provided parts to fix recalled cribs and making sure the crib is not missing any bolts, screws, or other hardware. If the manufacturer does not provide a fix for the recalled crib, it is best to play it safe and purchase a new crib for your infant or toddler.
Arm Yourself With Information
When it comes to your baby's safety, arm yourself with information. Know how to register a crib and how to stay up to date on any product recalls. If you do have a recalled crib, know the steps to resolve the problem so that you can rest assured that your baby is always safe while he/she sleeps.
