About 2,300 drop-side cribs made by Shermag have been recalled because the drop-side rail hardware can break or fail, allowing the drop side to detach from the crib. Infants and toddlers can then become wedged in the gap created between the rail and the mattress, posing risks of suffocation and strangulation.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Shermag know of 21 incidents involving drop sides that failed or detached. No injuries have been reported. About 800 drop-side cribs were also recalled in Canada. Shermag is based in Quebec. The cribs were sold at The Land of Nod and other baby specialty stores for $400 to $800, from September 2004 through December 2008. “Shermag” is printed on a tag located on the mattress springs.

The wooden drop-side cribs have hidden drop-side hardware, were sold in various colors, and include the following model numbers. Pictures can be found here.

• Model number 202647
  
• Model number 211047
  
• Model number 272547

The model numbers can be found on stickers and warning labels on the crib’s headboard or footboard. The cribs were sold separately and as part of the “City Lights,” “Fairy Tales” and “Dormez Vous” furniture collections.

In addition to entrapment and suffocation hazards, drop-side cribs can also be hazardous because children can fall out of the crib when the drop-side rail falls unexpectedly or detaches from the crib. Drop-side rail failures can also occur due to incorrect assembly or with age-related wear and tear. At a minimum, the CPSC recommends that you do not use a crib that is older than 10 years.

This past summer, federal rules went into effect requiring all cribs manufactured and sold after June 28, 2011 meet new and improved safety standards. However, the new rules do not apply to drop-side cribs that had been purchased before that date. Although they cannot be resold, many drop-side cribs are already in consumer homes. You can check if your crib has been recalled at www.cpsc.gov.

For this batch of recalled drop-side cribs, Shermag will send owners a free repair kit that will immobilize the drop-side. For additional information, contact Shermag at 800-567-3419, or visit www.shermag.com.

New Federal Requirements: A Safer Generation of Cribs [CPSC]
Shermag Recalls to Repair Drop-Side Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards [CPSC]