LaJobi Graco Crib Recall 2010

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the recall of Graco-branded drop side cribs made by LaJobi. This recall affects approximately 217,000 cribs, which were manufactured and sold between February 2007 and March 2010. According to the CPSC, at least two children suffered entrapment, but were freed by their caregiver. Also concerning were reports of drop side failure in the LaJobi/Graco cribs that resulted in six children falling out of their crib. One child suffered a mild concussion. Parents and other caregivers are urged to find alternative sleeping arrangements for the little ones under there care until a hardware fix is completed. A complete list of LaJobi/Graco cribs recalled is present on the CPSC site here.

Are drop side cribs safe?

According to the CPSC, which maintains a list of recalled cribs, the question of whether or not drop side cribs are safe isn't easy. They do state that the majority of their complaints about cribs involve drop down cribs. Six million out of seven million crib recalls in recent years - that's a staggering 86% - were drop side cribs.

One problem with drop side cribs is that there is an increased risk of failure because of the additional hardware needed to allow the side to slide down. If the side becomes detached or too loose, a child or toddler could become entrapped, risking injury or suffocation.

The ability to drop down one side of the crib also brings with it potential stability issues. Parents should be aware that the convenience of dropping down the side to reach their infant also means that their baby's bed may not be as sturdy or as safe as it could be. Therefore, parents are encouraged to regularly inspect their child's crib for potential safety defects. If safety defects are noted, they should be reported to the CPSC and the manufacturer. Reporting an incident is very easy and can be done at the CPSC site in just a few minutes.

With so many crib recalls, who can keep up?

Parents suffering from crib recall fatigue should note that the CPSC maintains a list of crib recalls, including the newest LaJobi Graco crib recall, going all the way back to the late 70s. Parents should take a moment and peruse the list since baby furniture is often passed around to friends and family as needed or packed away for years "just in case".

In addition, summer is typically yard sale season and cash strapped new parents-to-be will be looking for a bargain baby cribs. Even if your crib is not subject to recall, still double check the list so that you can give the new owner some peace of mind.

Sources:

CPSC LaJobi/Graco Recall 2010: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10212.html
CPSC Crib Recall List: http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/cribs.aspx
http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2010/02/safe-sleep-part-1-the-crib/
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-cribs_18mar18,0,1578820.story