Slotted mattress support hangers and plastic brackets for Questor "Baby Line" cribs

CPSC Recall #85-033 - June 25, 1985

Recall Summary

Recall Number85-033
Recall DateJune 25, 1985
Remedy TypeReplace, Repair

Product

Slotted mattress support hangers and plastic brackets for Questor "Baby Line" cribs

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Baby Line Furniture Company, a division of Spalding & Evenflo Companies, Inc., today announced a voluntary replacement program of slotted mattress support hangers and plastic brackets for Questor "Baby Line" cribs manufactured from 1970 through 1982 because the Commission believes they can cause suffocation hazards. The hangers and brackets hold the mattress and spring to the corner- posts of the cribs.Two deaths and 14 other instances where the slotted hangers became unhooked and 17 instances of plastic brackets breaking or bending have been reported to the Commission.If the hanger becomes unhooked or a plastic bracket bends or breaks, the mattress can tilt down when the child moves to that corner. The child can then slide down and become caught between the mattress and the side rail or end panel of the crib. In 19 of the 33 reported incidents, including the two deaths, the child became entrapped between the mattress and the crib. The Commission believes the hangers may become unhooked when the crib is moved, the bed is made of when a child jumps in the crib.While the firm believes its cribs do not present a hazard if assembled properly and used in accordance with instructions, a failure of the plastic hanger bracket, or an unhooking of the slotted hangers could cause the crib spring and mattress assembly to pivot downward when the child moves to that corner, resulting in potential for injury.The cribs can be identified by the name "Questor" on a stick-on-label underneath the mattress on the headboard or footboard of the crib. The cribs can also be identified by the slotted hangers and a tubular mattress support.More than 900,000 of the cribs were manufactured. Many of them are now being used by second or third owners. Fifty percent or more are believed by the Commission to be in storage. The cribs were sold in several different styles and come in white, maple, pine and sometimes in yellow and walnut finishes. They sold at retail for $77.00 to $140.00.The plastic brackets were previously recalled in 1979 and 1981, but the Commission has continued to receive reports of breakage and bending. Baby Line has since changed the design of its brackets and also of its mattress support hangers.If you own one of these cribs having slotted mattress hangers or plastic brackets, whether you are using it or have it in storage, call the manufacturer toll-free to obtain replacement kits for the slotted hangers and plastic brackets. The number is 800-543-8954 outside Ohio and 800-762-8926 in Ohio. You may also write to Baby Line Furniture Co., 6235 South St. Andrews Place, Los Angeles, California, 90047, Attention: Corrective Program.Owners of these cribs which have been previously used or which have been disassembled and reassembled are also urged to check the cribs frequently for stability and loose or missing parts. If owners do not have the original assembly and use instructions, they should obtain a copy from the company at the above address or by calling the toll-free phone numbers.Information concerning this matter is also available to consumers on CPSC's toll-free Hotline at 800-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing-impaired is (800) 638-8270.​Under laws administered by CPSC, an estimated 325 million potentially hazardous products have been called back from the marketplace and consumers since 1973 (when CPSC was created). Most of these were voluntarily recalled by manufacturers who established programs to repair or replace the products, or to refund the purchase price.

Hazard

The Commission believes they can cause suffocation hazards.

Incidents & Injuries

Two deaths and 14 other instances where the slotted hangers became unhooked and 17 instances of plastic brackets breaking or bending have been reported to the Commission.

Remedy Instructions

If you own one of these cribs having slotted mattress hangers or plastic brackets, whether you are using it or have it in storage, call the manufacturer toll-free to obtain replacement kits for the slotted hangers and plastic brackets.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace, Repair 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 (Replace, 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.