Owners of recalled cribs ask, "Where's my baby going to sleep?"

A number of distressed parents and grandparents have posted comments about last month's recall of 320,000 Jardine cribs complaining about the lengthy and unwieldy process they've had to go through to get replacement cribs. They have our sympathy, but it may take more than that to get satisfaction—and a safe crib.

As we wrote in June, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 320,000 cribs made by Jardine Enterprises and sold for the past six years at retail and online outlets of Toys 'R' Us properties. The reason for the recall? The wooden slats and spindles can break, leading to entrapment and strangulation hazards. At the time of the recall, the CPSC had received 42 reports of crib slats and spindles breaking including four in which children became entrapped in the gap created by the broken piece. Two children were scraped or bruised.

The recall notice directed owners of the cribs to the Jardine Web site, which spells out details on getting a voucher for a replacement crib. Many parents who wrote us  were surprised to see that they had to dismantle the crib and follow a multi-step process to get the voucher. Here's what they're directed to do after they request a recall kit:

• Remove mattress support hardware and identification label using the kit's instructions and Allen key that is provided.
• Place the bolts, mattress support plates, identification label and signed acknowledgment form in the prepaid shipping envelope provided.
• Send the envelope to Jardine via UPS.

Those who send in the hardware and acknowledgment are promised a voucher in "one to two weeks," a time period most parents thought was too long. As Sarah wrote, "I am an owner of one of the recalled cribs—I contacted the manufacturer immediately and am furious to find out that the process involves me shipping the bolts and screws along with the mattress supports to the manufacturer before getting the voucher for a new crib—which is stated to take 1-2 weeks. Where does the manufacturer think my child will sleep in the meantime?"

Jane, a grandparent who bought two of the cribs, agreed and added, "I purchased two of these cribs for two of my grandkids. Now, I am supposed to go through the difficult process of submitting for a voucher. In the meantime, each child will be without a crib during the delay."

A self-described, "Annoyed Mom," was also troubled by the fact that her baby needed alternate sleeping accommodations while she goes through the replacement process. "Theoretically we will EVENTUALLY get a new crib for our son, but it seems like we will be up to a month of "camping" in a borrowed pack and play until that actually happens! What a nightmare for an already harried household and a great way to upset our 6 month old's fragile sleeping habits!!! Grrrr."

We hear your frustration. Our advice: Don't be tempted to put your little one in your adult bed while you are waiting to receive a voucher; that can be a risky practice that poses suffocation hazards.  Instead, place your child in a portable crib or playyard, which will be a much safer, albeit temporary, sleeping environment.

A spokesman for the CPSC says that the agency is taking steps to guide parents through the process. "From the day the recall was first announced, CPSC has strongly advised parents to not place their babies and toddlers in those Jardine cribs that were recalled," said Scott Wolfson.

"To help parents deal with the challenge of finding a safe alternative sleeping environment for their children, CPSC partnered with a non-profit organization that is helping economically disadvantaged families that are desperately in need of a free crib. Parents can contact CPSC Public Affairs at 301-504-7908 if they face this situation," he said.

"Additionally, CPSC worked with Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us to ensure that all of their stores would accept the Jardine vouchers for reimbursement, if a family went out today to buy a new crib, Wolfson said. "This also applies to online purchases of new cribs. Ensuring that babies are placed in safe cribs is among our highest priorities."

For more on crib safety, read "Safer sleeping for babies" on our Babies & Kids blog.

Comments

[Maggie]

I sent my crib parts back as directed on July 8th and I am still waiting to recieve a voucher. I have placed multiple calls to the call center and talk to someone different each time. They told me that they rec'd my parts on 7/16, and each time they assure me that they will overnight a voucher to me. Unfortunately, they keep sending me more kits to take my crib apart. Today they gave me a different 800 number to call. (1-800-295-1980 incase any of you need it...) The guy today says he will send me a voucher and he will supposedly call me at the end of the day with a tracking number. We will see. For now, my 16 month old has been sleeping in a pack and play for the last month and 1/2. I am very skeptical that I will ever rec'v a voucher.

[Karen]

I've seen everywhere that we should send in the bolts, mattress support plates and identification label, but even after I received the "instructions" from Jardine, I'm still confused. Even though the letter (under #2) says that the instructions will tell you about the identification label, the instructions never mention them. What is this identification label and where do I find it? It's also unclear to me what is a bolt vs what is a screw. Well, I'm planning on sending back all of the hardware. I hope that doesn't stress the packaging too much. I've peeled off a sticker with identification material on it. Is this the identification label?
Thanks for any help you can provide.

[db]

Anyone know how much a voucher will be worth for Model # BC017. This would be handy in determing what crib I can go ahead and buy and then reimburse once we get the new voucher.

[Erica]

I can understand why Jardine would request part of the crib, 1. to make sure the person actually owns one of the specified models 2. so that it's less likely to be sold and used by another family. Thankfully we have a pack 'n play and aren't affected by the wait *too* much, but Jardine isn't giving anything to aid in the disposal of the defective crib(s). I really appreciate that Jardine is doing a voluntary recall and that shipping for the requested parts is paid for by them. It's unfortunate that the wait is so long, but what gets me is that we will have to make a special dump run just to get rid of the old crib. And if what others have been saying is true - I may not be happy with the amount on the voucher. I have one to two weeks before I know for sure though.