Parker Waichman LLP

Toys ‘R Us to Stop Selling Dangerous Drop-Side Cribs

Concerns over dangerous drop-side cribs have prompted Toys ‘R Us to stop ordering them. According to The Wall Street Journal, the decision the retailer announced yesterday follows an agreement last month by some crib makers to support a proposed ban on drop-side cribs. Drop-side cribs are popular because they allow caregivers to easily access the […]

Concerns over <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/product_liability">dangerous drop-side cribs have prompted Toys ‘R Us to stop ordering them. According to The Wall Street Journal, the decision the retailer announced yesterday follows an agreement last month by some crib makers to support a proposed ban on drop-side cribs.

Drop-side cribs are popular because they allow caregivers to easily access the beds. But as anyone who reads this site knows, drop-side cribs have been the subject of numerous recalls, many of which occurred after children were injured – and in some cases killed – because of defective cribs. In many cases, problems with drop-side cribs occur when hardware fails. The problem is exacerbated because most families use a crib for more than one child. The older the crib, the more likely it is that hardware will wear out and fail.

According to the Journal, there have been 21 recalls of 4.2 million cribs over the past two years because of hazardous defects. Recalled cribs have been implicated in five deaths, and there have been 16 incidents where children became trapped in parts of the beds. In many cases, the Journal said, these problems have involved drop-side cribs. What’s more, nearly every recalled crib – even those involved in fatalities – had met current safety standards.

As we reported last month, at a meeting of the standards organization ASTM International, major crib manufacturers signed on to a proposal that would ban drop-side cribs in the U.S. Proposed new rules would require that all four sides of the crib be rigidly attached to one another. Such a design eliminates the moving parts that have broken loose and created entrapment hazards. The regulations would allow a small portion of the top of a crib railing to fold down, so that people who need it would still have easier access to the crib.

Unfortunately, according to The Wall Street Journal, even if the proposal is adopted, ASTM doesn’t have enforcement powers. And in the best case scenario, the a ban could take a year to become effective and would likely apply only to newly made cribs.

Meanwhile, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) is scheduled to meet today with consumer advocates, crib makers and others to discuss ways the government could better assure crib safety.

Toys ‘R Us is apparently not willing to wait for the industry or the CPSC to act. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Jerry Storch said Toys ‘R Us is now moving to phase out drop-side cribs. He added that the current economic conditions could be encouraging more consumers to hold on to their cribs, making hardware failures more likely.

“It adds in an element of risk that we don’t want to take, particularly over time,” Storch said. “It seems that the strongest cribs are ones where the four sides attach to each other and have less complicated hardware.”

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
Christina (Tina) Morace is wonderful and so very helpful!!!
Margaret Evers
a year ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Thank you very much for your good work, they work very excellently and my case went well. I am very satisfied with Parker Waichman LLP, thank you and I recommend them. They are very kind. I thank Jorge and Maryann for being very kind and always attentive to my case.
La estrella marina
8 months ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Parker Waichman helped me. Joanne was helpful as well.
Charlene Hakimi
5 years ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038