The not so simple Simplicity crib recall

On Sept. 21,  we wrote about the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall of 1 million Simplicity cribs because of a design flaw that could lead to an infant’s entrapment, suffocation and death.

Unfortunately, we have discovered the Simplicity recall is far from simple. The CPSC press release urges consumers who have the crib to call Simplicity for a repair kit. But it turns out there is no repair kit ready to send to consumers. Instead, callers are told they will receive a kit within three to four weeks.

So what’s the deal? Why did the CPSC issue a major recall, without any ready remedy for concerned parents and caregivers? Could it possibly be that the agency was about to be criticized by The Chicago Tribune for failure to address the crib problem sooner? The newspaper was preparing a major story detailing the April 2005 death of a 9-month-old and how it wasn’t until two years after the death—following the paper’s inquiries—that the CPSC sent an investigator to finally retrieve the crib and examine its flaws.

“It is an unusual step for the agency to announce a recall without an approved remedy in place,” acknowledged CPSC spokeswoman Julie Vallese. But she added, “the hazard and possible outcomes were such a concern that the agency felt it couldn’t wait to alert the public.”

Vallese added: “There is no repair at this time” to address the problem that has lead to at least two deaths and 55 incidents. The issue: the  drop-side of the crib can detach and create a dangerous gap, leading to entrapment and suffocation. The drop-side failures result from both the hardware and crib design, which allows consumers to unintentionally install the drop-side upside down.

The recall involves many different models, including some cribs sold under the Graco brand. Simplicity says it is working closely with the CPSC to find a retrofit kit. “Finding a repair suitable for all models is proving to be a challenge,” Vallese said. The agency hopes to have a repair  “worked out and approved within the three to four weeks that Simplicity has promised,” Vallese added.

Now if you’re someone who likes to keep count, that means that more than two weeks have already passed since the recall was announced.

So what’s a parent to do while waiting for the repair? “We are recommending that parents and caregivers explore the alternative of using other sleep environments, like portable play yards or borrowing equipment from friends and family members.” Make sure the substitute items have not been the subject of a previous recall -- such as the Kolcraft play yard. To find out, visit the CPSC's web site. One option we’d strongly recommend against: Don't let your baby share your bed. In addition to the risk that you might roll onto your baby, adult beds pose other hazards. Your baby could get trapped between the bed and a wall, headboard, bed frame or other object. Accidental suffocation in soft bedding is another danger, or the baby could fall off the bed.

“The top priority of the agency at this time, to get parents a workable solution,” Vallese said. We certainly hope so.

Comments

[J K]

I have a simplicity crib and tried to call for replacement parts and they told me simplicity is no longer in business so there is nothing anyone can do.

[Sheryl]

I have one of the Graco cribs on the recall list and have had problems with it off and on. When I heard about the recall I sent for the replacement kit, called the 800 number that I received on a mailer sent out to me and still HAVE NOT received my repair kit. It has now been TWO MONTHS or MORE since I requested my repair kit and am becoming increasingly irritated that I have not received it yet. I have a 10 month old that has no other place to sleep so I have resorted to getting up several times a night to check on him and make sure everything is how it should be. It's a bit unbelieveable to me that such a large and "reputable" company has not been more on top of things so potentially leathal to infant children. I guess it's true that all these companies care about is the bottom line and how much money they can line their pockets with. These are our children for gods sake!

[David Steinke]

So, as you have all mentioned, the repair kit immobilizes the drop side. Surely there is a law relevant to false advertising or something that would enable consumers to force them to completely replace or refund the product. I also have a changing table that was broken when we bought it. Simplicity shipped a replacement part that doesn't fit right. These people suck.

[Nicole Calderon]

When i found out about this recall i called and requested the new hardware. After about 7 weeks of receiving nothing, i called again to the CPSC hot line and made a complaint and ask for a refund on the item. I was advised that Simplicity did not make that part of the recall and were not required to get me a refund on the item. i ask for the new hardware and received the hardware in about 2 weeks. I not only don't really understand how to install it now looks like i can not drop side of crib, me as a mother of two babies 1 year and 2 years i need this option. I hate that i spent my money on your products and when the recall came out was not able to return this item, because i am afraid to place my child in the crib anymore. I think that your company was wrong in this decision and i really would like a refund on this item. All other company's allow you to return the item in the event of a recall. This situation is very disturbing to me and i am sure to all moms. Your company needs to rethink this disision and put yourself in the consumers shoes. I still have never received the hardware i requested from the company. Thank you for your assistance Simplicity!

[Hillary]

I have 2 of the recalled cribs, and have also sent a email:
The first email is on the bottom, read it from the bottom up.
I have contacted the local tv station problem solvers and hope they can do something about this.
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We’re sorry Hillary but there is nothing more that we can do. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Thank you,

Kenny

Customer service

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Then I want you to send me 2 new cribs with working dropsides. It is ridiculous to think that people would be ok with this "solution". I cannot return them to the store, since they are a couple years old, you need to make sure your customers are satisfied. Maybe I should call the local tv station Problem Solvers and inform them of this. I'm sure I am not the only person dissatisfied with a crib that no longer functions like it is supposed to do.

----- Original Message -----

We’re sorry for the inconvenience that this recall has caused you. Unfortunately, immobilizing the drop side was the only solution the CPSC would approve. If your cribs have wheels we would suggest that you remove them to lower the cribs a little and make it easier to use.

Thank you,

Kenny

Customer service

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Unfortunately, that is not good enough. I want the cribs I bought to work like they are supposed to work. It is not just an inconvenience, it is a problem. I do not want a fix that renders the dropside useless. That is not fixing anything, you might as well have said to just screw it onto the side of the crib!! And my cribs are in the recall, I went online through your website and they have the brackets that are recalled. Why don't you send the brackets that were not recalled (with the tab at the top)?? As I said if you cannot properly fix the defect, then you need to replace or refund the product.

----- Original Message -----

Thank you for contacting Simplicity.

Unfortunately, this is the only solution we have to offer. We’re sorry for the inconvenience. There is the possibility that your crib is not involved in the recall however. Please supply the model number and manufacture code from the white sticker on the crib and I will double check it for you.

Thank you,

Kenny

Customer service

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I received the retrofit kit for one of my dropside cribs that were in the recall today. I have two cribs (2 children under 3) and am waiting on the second kit. I am VERY unhappy about how the side does not drop down anymore. When I purchased these cribs, they had one stationary side and one drop side. If you could not fix the defect so that the crib operated properly then you need to issue refunds. I do not want cribs that don't have drop down sides, but do want safe cribs. Please help me to have both since I purchased your (supposedly) well-made products.

Thank you,

Hillary

[Lindsey]

Following is an email I wrote to Simplicity, we'll see if there's any response!

To Whom It May Concern:

When I realized that my baby’s crib was part of your recall, I immediately got on your website and signed up to have the replacement hardware sent to me. I thought it was bad enough that your company claimed that it was still safe for my baby to sleep in the crib in the meantime, but it was ridiculous that it took 4 weeks for the replacement parts to reach my home.

Apparently, none of your company executives have small children that sleep in this crib, because it was NOT safe for my child to sleep in while I waited for the replacement hardware. About a week before the recall ever came out, I went into my child’s room in the middle of the night to feed her, and I found that one side of the crib rail was unlatched. At that time, I just assumed that it was a freak thing and didn’t think twice about it. When your recall came out, I was horrified to think that it wasn’t a freak thing, and that my crib could have injured or even killed my child. As I could not afford a new crib, and I didn’t have anywhere else for my baby to sleep, I tied up both ends of the crib rail and placed something under it so that it couldn’t drop. Obviously, this is a less than ideal situation but it was going to have to do.

Last night, I received my replacement hardware and was reading through the instructions to make sure that I understood the installation correctly. I was quite upset to realize that I would no longer be able to drop and raise the rail on my crib! It’s absolutely disgusting that you expect everyone who bought this crib with their hard-earned money to just accept your “jimmy-rig” hardware. Your company executives and anyone else who had a part in making this decision, should be ashamed of themselves. It’s bad enough that the original product caused the death of babies, but then you expect the consumer to just sit back and accept your “fix”. I, personally, would like to see a refund for the product I purchased from you, if I had wanted a fixed-rail crib, I would have bought one that way and I no longer feel that my child is safe using any of your products now that I know this is how you handle serious problems.

Sincerely,

Lindsey R.

[mara dyson]

I have a brand new (recalled) Simplicity Aspen 4 in 1 crib that has never been taken out of the box. I purchased it from Target in April 2007. When I heard about recall in October, I contacted Simplicity who told me to take it back to Target. I took the crib back to Target, however, they would not take it, citing their 90 day return policy.

Under normal circumstances, I would have never tried to return an item after the return period even if it had not been used. But, because the crib is a recalled item and still in the box, I feel that Target should have taken it back. I'm sure that they would have no problem returning it to Simplicity.

Why should I be forced to keep a defective crib and wait for non-existent parts to repair a brand new crib? I could understand it if I had opened the box and used the crib, but that is not the case.

I feel that Target's service policy is as much in need of scrutiny as Simplicity's.

Any suggestions on how I should proceed in this matter?

[Michelle]

I paid 200.00 for this crib, one of the bonuses was the drop side rail because I am short. When I found out about the recall I used the company website to order the part to "fix" the problem. When I got the new hardware (4 weeks later!) it says to install the hardware and that the rail will now be stationary, why did I buy this crib??? Also they sent me a whopping $20.00 rebate voucher for my next simplicity product. A little confused too that I registered the crib so if there was a problem I would be notified, never heard a thing about the recall aside from a news station!

[George A Baldwin]

It never ceases to amaze me that so many of us have survived prior to so many of devoting so much time to insuring our survival...