Stork Craft Recalls 2.1 Million Cribs, Largest in U.S. History

on November 24, 2009 at 3:28 PM

Stork Craft crib recall.

In the largest crib recall in U.S. history, Stork Craft is recalling 2.1 million dropside cribs in the U.S. and Canada.

This is the second major recall for the company in a year. In January, Stork Craft recalled 500,000 cribs because of a defective mattress support that caused the mattress to collapse and cause a gap where baby could get stuck.

The recent recall follows 110 incidents where the drop-side rail became detached. Four of the children suffocated and died. Other children fell from the crib and got bumps, bruises and concussions.

The cribs involved in these incidents had plastic drop-side hardware that had broken, missing, or deformed claws, connectors, tracks, or flexible tab stops; loose or missing metal spring clips; stripped screws; and/or drop-sides installed upside-down.

Here are the other important details, spread the word ...

What: This recall involves Stork Craft drop-side cribs and Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. This recall does not involve any cribs that do not have a drop-side. This recall does not involve any cribs with metal rod drop-side hardware. It involves only those cribs with plastic trigger and one-hand-system drop-side hardware.

This recall includes Stork Craft cribs with manufacturing and distribution dates between January 1993 and October 2009.

This recall also includes Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo that have manufacturing dates between October 1997 and December 2004. The Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo were first sold in the U.S. in July 1998 and in Canada in September 1998. The cribs were sold in various styles and finishes.

The manufacture date, model number, crib name, country of origin, and the firm’s name, address, and contact information are located on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board. The firm’s insignia “storkcraft baby” or “storkling” is inscribed on the drop-side teething rail of some cribs. In Stork Craft cribs that contain the “Fisher-Price” logo, this logo can be found on the crib’s teething rail, in the manufacturer’s instructions, on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board, and on the end panels of the Twinkle-Twinkle and Crystal crib models.

Where it was sold: Major retailers in the United States and Canada sold the recalled cribs including BJ’s Wholesale Club, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Meijer, Sears, USA Baby, and Wal-Mart stores and online at Amazon.com, Babiesrus.com, Costco.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com from January 1993 through October 2009 for between $100 and $400.

What you should do: CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs, wait for the free repair kit, and do not attempt to fix the cribs without the kit. They should find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side.

For additional information, contact Stork Craft toll-free at (877) 274-0277 anytime to order the free repair kit, or log on to www.storkcraft.com

About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: bedtime, recalls, safety, sleep

Comments (8)

DramaRama

on Nov 25, 2009 at 1:41 PM

What frustrates me about this is that there was one recall that took TWO MONTHS for us to receive the new brackets. Now...now there is another that will make the crib a fixed side. I understand that as a parent I am responsible for making sure my crib is safe and I did my research online and never thought about how the dropside could be a danger-and now it seems obvious. Nevertheless, still frustrating. I have stopped using the crib altogether except as a co-sleeping type of thing. They should really refund some of the money that parents gave for the dropside crib since, essentially, it is now becoming a fixed side crib.

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Pollymom

on Nov 25, 2009 at 3:19 PM

I find it ridiculous that these large companies can't seem to make a safe crib. Why is that so hard for them?

I remember a couple of years ago when the Simplicity cribs and basinetts were recalled. We had one of them....my son was a co-sleeper so he never used it as a crib. He used it as a toddler bed which on that model you remove the drop side and put up two little safety rails that are fixed, so no danger with that configuration.

It is just frustrating that baby items are always being recalled.

FoxyRoxyMommy

on Nov 27, 2009 at 12:19 PM

as a short person, a drop rail crib was beneficial. i understand the dangers involved with this defect, but wish they would get on track with building a crib with a drop rail that IS actually safe. i mean...we put people in space all the damn time..and they cant engineer a SAFE baby crib?? now i get to have a fixed rail crib..and when i wanna reach in and get my son when he is older..ill need a step stool. fabulous. so much for buying a "good, safe, accessable crib". wonder how long ill have to have him in his pack n play til they get this part to me.

stephmiester87

on Nov 27, 2009 at 9:44 PM

I have one of those cribs for my son. Though it is an older model that had already had the drop slides recalled. I completly took the drop slides off all together. And I check it every night before I put him to bed. I dont have the money to buy a new crib and he will hopefully be in a toddler bed soon.

MammaMcC

on Nov 28, 2009 at 9:00 AM

I never liked drop side cribs, I didn't trust them and now I know why! I am so glad that I spent the extra money and got a solid crib where the mattress is up near the top when they are little and then once they can sit up on their own it goes down to a normal crib. I feel bad for the people who have these, what are they to do until they get the pieces they need??? I think they should get a full refund!

BambiF

on Nov 28, 2009 at 10:22 PM

Wow I almost bought one of these cribs but then got a solid one instead because it was on sale....

niamibunni

on Nov 29, 2009 at 12:10 PM

I solved the problem by not buying a drop side crib in the first place. I'd just rather deal with any sore back problems later on than having my son get hurt or die.

I'd honestly like to see drop side cribs banned.

sunshi449009

on Nov 30, 2009 at 8:23 PM

I don't have one of the recalled cribs, however, the hardware on my crib is the same! I got the crib from someone and had it repainted to match my decor. I really did not want to take a chance and have my baby in harms way. So, my friend bolted the rail to the crib so there is no way that the rail can come down. I am not suggesting anyone else do this. Check your cribs to see if the hardware is similar, and call the manufacturer and demand they send you new hardware. I agree with a lot of the moms. I do not trust the drop rail cribs. I saw that IKEA has some cute cribs and they sit low to the ground making it easy for tall and short moms :)