More than 1.5 million cribs manufactured in China, Indonesia, and Taiwan were recalled on Monday, October 21st by the family-owned company Delta Enterprises. One of the largest in American history, it comes as a result of the death of two infants. No details were given on the deaths of the two babies, and Delta refused to answer any questions regarding the incidents.

One kind of crib was produced in China, uses a “spring peg” mechanism to raise and lower its side. Delta Enterprises said it plans to contact the consumers who bought the 600,000 of these cribs between 1995 and 2005 to send them additional parts that would make the mechanism safer. Delta has issued a voluntary recall of the other 985,000 cribs so the company can send consumers safety pegs that are missing from the base of the crib legs. The consumers are instructed how to install these themselves. The safety pegs are used in the product’s gate mechanism. When absent, the crib locks can malfunction and detach if the crib is lowered below the peg hole, creating a dangerous gap between the mattress and the crib side. This gap leaves infants and toddlers vulnerable to entrapment and suffocation. The Consumer Product Safety Commision has confirmed the death of an 8 month old child who became entrapped and suffocated when the drop side of the a crib detached in a reassembled crib where the safety pegs were not installed.

The cribs were sold in Walmart, Kmart and Target.com from January 1995 through September 2007 for about $100. Those currently sold at retail are not involved, and Delta said the recalled cribs are no longer available in stores. The enormous recall by Delta Enterprises follows another of 2,000 cribs, also manufactured in China, issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission on Thursday. Delta and CPSC are urging parents and caregivers to immediately stop using cribs that are missing a safety peg on any leg of the crib and to contact Delta (1-800-816-5304) to receive a free, easy-to-install repair kit.

If you or someone you know has a child that has been injured in one of these cribs, contact us for a free consultation - you may be entitled to monetary damages.