Defective drop-side Simplicity cribs are being recalled in the United States and Canada is poised to follow suit. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 400,000 Simplicity drop side cribs last week. The hardware on the drop side can break allowing the baby to slip between the mattress and the rails posing a suffocation risk. A baby in Texas died after becoming entrapped in this way.
Health Canada is working with the Canadian importer on this --Elfe Juvenile Products out of Montreal --as part of a voluntary recall. No word on how many of the cribs may have been sold in Canada. In the past, our tougher Canadian standards have reduced the number of faulty cribs for sale here. A recall in April, saw 400,000 cribs recalled in the U.S. and only 1,300 in Canada. In May, Consumer Reports advised consumers looking for cribs to opt for ones with fixed sides instead of ones that drop. Consumer Reports recommends the Ikea Leksvik crib as a best buy.
Many specialty stores also offer fixed side cribs that convert into a double bed when your child is older. And that can be good value to have something your child can use from cradle to college.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
