The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that drop-side cribs have killed at least 32 infants, issuing another warning about the dangers of cribs that have drop-side detachment parts.
The warning comes after the drop-side Simplicity cribs recall a couple of weeks ago. In a statement, the CPSC said that it is actively investigating several other crib manufacturers for potential drop-side hazards.
The 32 deaths, including the death of a Massachusetts boy, involve incidents where a drop side detached without caregivers noticing it, as well as cases where they unsuccessfully tried to repair the crib. The CPSC said that there are additional 14 reports of infant deaths that occurred in drop-side cribs, however there wasn’t enough information to determine whether the drop side of the crib was the factor.
According to the CPSC, drop-side cribs are less structurally sound than other cribs, so they are more prone to break. When that happens, the drop side can detach in one or more corners from the crib, and if a small child rolls or moves into the space created by a partially detached drop side, the child can become entrapped and suffocate. These cribs also pose a danger of strangulation, specifically in the “V” shape area formed by a drop side that detaches in an upper corner.
The CPSC said it will continue to take aggressive action to address any risks and will keep the public informed, as part of a larger effort to rid the marketplace and homes of unsafe cribs.
