IMPORTANT Crib Safety Alert!

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) has issued several safety alerts (recalls) for the Generation 2 Worldwide baby cribs.  In February/March 2010 they issued warnings on the  “ChildESIGNS” drop-side cribs.

This most recent safety warning warns consumers that the "SafetyCraft" brand full-size and non-full-size drop-side cribs also manufactured or distributed by Generation 2 Worldwide, contains the same plastic drop-side hardware as that found in the “ChildESIGNS” brand recalled in 2010. 

The plastic hardware securing the crib’s drop-side rail can break which could result in the drop side rail detaching at the corner of the crib.  This creates a gap between the crib frame and the mattress.  This gap presents a safety hazard in which an infant could slide into the opening and be unable to free itself from this life-threatening situation. CPSC has received information showing three infants suffocated to death after being trapped between the mattress and a broken side panel of the crib. In addition, twenty more incidents involved the crib's drop side detaching from the crib. Five reports indicated children fell out of the cribs due to a drop side rail detaching.

CPSC also stresses the need for parents and caregivers to stop using these cribs immediately and replace the crib as soon as possible with a crib that complies with the new federal requirements (See my earlier post on Baby Crib Safety - Part 1.)   Consumers should NOT attempt to repair the crib.  No repair kit will be offered.  Generation 2 Worldwide went out of business in early 2005. The SafetyCraft name was later purchased by Foundations Children's Products of Medina, OH.  “SafetyCraft “cribs manufactured and sold by Foundations Children's Products are not the subject of this recall. You can identify a new Foundations SafetyCraft crib by looking for Foundations name printed on the assembly instructions attached to the mattress support board under the crib mattress.

Generation 2 Worldwide’s ChildESIGN cribs were sold at large retailers that include K-Mart, Buy Buy Baby and Wal-Mart. However, because Generation 2 Worldwide is no longer in business, it is likely that other smaller retailers also sold their cribs. The cribs cost between $60 and $160.  Specific retail information is not available for the SafetyCraft cribs.

According to CPSC, you can use the following guidelines to check your crib to see if it falls within the scope of this recall. 

• The name “Generation 2 Worldwide” shows on a label applied to the crib’s headboard/footboard.
• Some labels identify Dothan, Ala as the place of manufacture
• Others identify country of manufacture as China.
• The name “ChildESIGNS” may be printed on the teething rail
• The name "SafetyCraft" shows on a label on the crib's headboard or footboard.
• Labels on the crib may identify the place of manufacture as Indonesia or Dothan, Alabama.
• The latest warning involves all SafetyCraft drop-side cribs, including model 92-8112, manufactured and/or sold by Generation 2Worldwide.

Some of the model numbers on the ChildESIGN cribs include: 0-110X, 10-210X, 21-110X, 20-710X, 64-315X, 26-110X, 90-257X, 20-810X, 46-715X, 64-311X, 74-315X, 21-815X, 21-810X, 20815X, 308154 and 54915.  (NOTE:  the "X" is inserted to show any number)

The latest warning involves all SafetyCraft drop-side cribs, including model 92-8112, manufactured and/or sold by Generation 2 Worldwide.

If you identify your crib as one involved in this recall, contact the retailer from whom you purchased the crib.  You should be able to receive a refund, a replacement crib, or store credit.

The CPSC requests that any consumer who has difficulty in resolving this with the place of purchase should advise CPSC at their recall hotline (800) 638-2772.