Dropside Mesh-Sided Cribs and Playpens
CPSC Recall #86-055 - September 14, 1986
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 86-055 |
| Recall Date | September 14, 1986 |
| Remedy Type | - |
Product
Dropside Mesh-Sided Cribs and Playpens
Description
Washington, DC -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and nine manufacturers of dropside mesh-sided cribs and playpens today renewed a warning to parents that these cribs and playpens present an asphyxiation and suffocation hazard when a child is left in one of these products with a side down.Beginning the second phase of an extensive publicity campaign to alert parents to the dangers of leaving infants in dropside mesh-sided cribs and playpens with a side down, the Commission cited 15 deaths of young children in the "side down" scenario since 1978. Seven of the victims were six weeks old or younger.The victims rolled or moved off the floor of the crib or playpen into the mesh pocket formed by the lowered side and suffocated.Children may be unable to cry out when caught in the mesh pocket because they cannot breathe.Children can also suffer other injuries such as brain damage as a result of becoming caught in the mesh pocket of the lowered side.The nine manufacturers in signing a Consent Agreement last year agreed to engage in a notice campaign. The program was initiated in August 1985. This announcement is part of the campaign which includes sending letters to households with children nine months of age or younger to warn of the "side down" hazard. The firms will also mail posters to pediatricians, obstetricians, and health officials; place a paid advertisement in Parents magazine, and seek space in other magazines aimed at families with young children.Firms signing the Consent Agreement and Participating in the safety program are Bilt-Rite Juvenile Product, Inc.; Century Products, Inc.; Pride-Trimble Corporation; Spalding & Even-Flo Companies, Inc. (successor to Questor Corporation); Strolee of California; and Welsh Company, Inc.Consumers wanting more information on the hazards of dropside mesh-sided cribs and playpens when a side is left down should call CPSC's toll-free hotline number at 800-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is (800) 638-8270.
Hazard
These cribs and playpens present an asphyxiation and suffocation hazard when a child is left in one of these products with a side down.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a remedy at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (refund, replacement, or repair) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.