Death Toll Rises for Simplicity Cribs

Currently, 11 reported baby deaths have been linked to defective Simplicity cribs. The number of deaths has increased despite several recalls and warnings about the dangers of Simplicity cribs. Earlier recall announcements reported the number of deaths at 4. A 7-month old infant from Princeton, KY, who died in September, is the most recent death linked to the cribs. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, this child became entrapped in the crib after one of the parts broke. In addition to the children who have died, the CPSC also says that drop side parts of Simplicity cribs have detached in 25 other incidents.

More than 2 million Simplicity cribs have been recalled since the recall began in December 2005, due to problems with their plastic hardware. The Graco logo and Winnie-the-Pooh motif are on some of the recalled cribs. The drop side of the cribs can detach when the cribs’ hardware is broken or deformed. Babies can suffocate if they become trapped in the space created between the drop side and the crib mattress. The CPSC continues to remind the public about the dangers of Simplicity cribs. According to the agency, consumers should check their cribs to see if it is a recalled Simplicity crib. If you do have a recalled crib, you should immediately stop using it, and do not try to fix it.