1 Million Simplicity, Graco Baby Cribs Recalled After 3 Children Die

WASHINGTON (AP) – About 1 million Simplicity and Graco cribs are being recalled after three children became entrapped in their cribs and died of suffocation, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday.

Two infants, a 6-month-old and a 9-month-old, died in the recalled cribs, which were sold through May 2007. A 1-year-old child died in a newer model of the cribs, which has not been recalled but is being investigated by the safety agency, CPSC officials said. CPSC spokesman Ed Kang would not comment on when or where the children died.

Simplicity spokesman Joe Householder said the company will not release further details about the deaths out of respect for the families. In all three deaths, the consumer had installed the drop-rail side of the crib upside down, the CPSC said. This creates a gap in the crib that children can slide into and suffocate.

Seven other infants have been entrapped in the cribs, according to the CPSC. There have been 55 reports of the cribs’ drop sides detaching or the hardware failing to hold the side to the crib. Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa., is listed as manufacturer of all the cribs, which were made in China. The recalled cribs were sold nationwide, under the Simplicity or Graco brands, from January 1998 through May 2007.

The recall involves multiple models and models numbers. None of the cribs that Simplicity currently supplies to stores is included in the recall, the company said in a statement. But CPSC is telling consumers who have the newer versions not covered by the recall to check to make sure the drop side is installed right side up and securely attached. For more information, consumers can contact Simplicity at 888-593-9274.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)