1 million baby cribs recalled

WASHINGTON -- About 1 million Simplicity and Graco cribs have been recalled after three children became entrapped and suffocated.

The recall was announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission on Friday, more than two years after a California lawyer says he alerted the federal agency about a 9-month-old who died in a faulty crib.

"Two years and two deaths is not fast enough. It's inexcusable that it took that long," said Charles Kelly, who represents the parents of the 9-month-old. Liam Johns of Citrus Heights, Calif., died in April 2005.

In addition to the Johns baby, a 6-month-old died in one of the cribs that was listed as part of Friday's recall. 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, commission officials said.

In all three deaths, consumers had installed the drop-rail side of the crib upside down, the agency said. This creates a gap in the crib that children can slide into and suffocate.

Seven other infants have been entrapped, according to the commission. There have been 55 reports of the cribs' drop sides detaching or the hardware failing.

Simplicity, of Reading, Pa., manufactured all the cribs, which were made in China. The recalled cribs were sold under the Simplicity or Graco brands from January 1998 through May 2007.

Simplicity President Ken Waldman said newer model cribs are safe, even though the 1-year-old died in one. "There are other factors involved with that case," he said, refusing to discuss details.

Friday's recall was the second-largest of full-size cribs since the commission was created in 1972.

The commission cautioned consumers who have newer versions to make sure the drop side is installed right side up and securely attached.

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 recalled cribs with the Graco logo are the Aspen 3 in 1, Ultra 3 in 1, Ultra 4 in 1, Ultra 5 in 1, Whitney and the Trio.

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

Contact Simplicity at (888) 593-9274 or visit www.cpsc.gov or www.simplicityforchildren.com.