NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

About 1 Million Simplicity Cribs Recalled Due To Failures Resulting in
Infant Deaths

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is
announcing today a voluntary recall with Simplicity Inc., of Reading,
Pa., of about 1 million cribs. The drop-side can detach from the crib,
which can create a dangerous gap and lead to the entrapment and
suffocation of infants. CPSC is aware of two deaths in Simplicity
manufactured cribs with older style hardware, including a 9-month-old
child and a 6-month-old child, where the drop-side was installed upside
down. CPSC is also aware of seven infant entrapments and 55 incidents in
these cribs.

CPSC is also investigating the death of a 1-year-old child in a
Simplicity crib with newer style hardware, in which the drop-side was
installed upside down. CPSC is warning parents and caregivers to check
all Simplicity cribs to make sure the drop-side is installed right side
up.

The drop-side failures result from both the hardware and crib design,
which allow consumers to unintentionally install the drop-side upside
down. This, in turn, can weaken the hardware and cause the drop-side to
detach from the crib. When the drop-side detaches, it creates a gap in
which infants can become entrapped.

CPSC is also aware of two incidents that occurred when the drop-side was
correctly installed with older style hardware, though the upside down
installation greatly increases the risk of failure.

The recalled Simplicity crib models include: Aspen 3 in 1, Aspen 4 in 1,
Nursery-in-a-Box, Crib N Changer Combo, Chelsea and Pooh 4 in 1. The
recall also involves the following Simplicity cribs that used the Graco
logo: Aspen 3 in 1, Ultra 3 in 1, Ultra 4 in1, Ultra 5 in 1, Whitney and
the Trio.

The recalled cribs have one of the following model numbers, which can be
found on the envelope attached to the mattress support and on the label
attached to the headboard: 4600, 4605, 4705, 5000, 8000, 8324, 8800,
8740, 8910, 8994, 8050, 8750, 8760, and 8996.

The cribs, which were made in China, were sold in department stores,
children's stores and mass merchandisers nationwide from January 1998
through May 2007 for between $100 and $300.

As an immediate precaution, consumers should check to see if the
drop-side is installed right side up. To do this, check to see that the
slightly rounded rail with the decorative groove is installed at the top
and the plain rail is on the bottom. Next, consumers should make sure
the drop-side is securely attached to the tracks in all four corners.

If the drop-side is installed upside down or not securely attached,
consumers should stop using the crib immediately. Incorrect installation
can cause permanent damage to the hardware and re-installing the
drop-side using the same hardware is unsafe.

Consumers should check to see if their crib contains the recalled
hardware. Recalled hardware has a flexible tab at the bottom of the
lower tracks and the top of the lower tracks are open. Newer hardware,
which is not subject to the recall, has the flexible tab located at the
top of the lower track, and a permanent stop at the bottom.

Consumers who have a crib with older style hardware can receive a free
repair by immediately contacting Simplicity toll-free at (888) 593-9274
between 8:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday, between 8 a.m.
and 5 p.m. ET on Friday, and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET on Saturday,
or by visiting the firm's Web site at www.simplicityforchildren.com

Consumers who have a crib with newer style hardware and have installed
the drop-side upside down or have broken hardware, should also contact
Simplicity immediately.

Consumer Action Guide: Style of Crib Hardware - Consumer Response

    Older Hardware - Recalled: Consumers should contact Simplicity
immediately for a free repair.

    Newer Hardware - Warning: Consumers should check crib's
drop-side to     ensure it is assembled right side up and inspect for
broken hardware.

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures showing proper
and improper drop-side installations, and older and newer hardware,
please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07307.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting
the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more
than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.
Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents
cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed
to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire,
electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The
CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys,
cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals -
contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of
deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30
years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's
hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or
visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email
subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers
can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at
www.cpsc.gov.

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