Drop side cribs have grown in popularity because they allow easy access to the crib's interior. Unfortunately, these cribs have long proven dangerous due to poor design and broken, poorly made, or inferior pieces that can cause the side rail to fall or separate, resulting in an entrapment and strangulation hazard. The CPSC says the plastic hardware on the recalled Stork Craft cribs' drop side can break or distort; parts can become missing; and the drop side can be installed upside-down, which can result in broken or detached plastic parts. Any of these issues can cause the drop side to become separated in any or all corners, leaving a space between the drop side and mattress in which a baby can suffocate; complete detachment can cause babies to fall out.

According to the CPSC there have been 110 cases of drop side detachment that involved 15 entrapments; four entrapments ended in suffocation, all with babies under 10 months of age. Twenty crib falls involved concussions, bruises, and other injuries. In every case, plastic drop side hardware that was broken, missing, or otherwise, defective, or incorrectly installed drop sides was to blame.

Stork Craft is providing a free repair kit to switch the defective drop side to a fixed side. Until the kit is received, consumers are urged to immediately stop using the crib and to only use the Stork Craft-provided kit to make the necessary adjustments. Stork Craft can be reached toll-free at 1-877-274-0277 at any time or at www.storkcraft.com to order the free repair kit.

Stork Craft Recall Details:

§ Manufacture/Distribution: January 1993 - October 2009.

§ "Fisher-Price" logo: With manufacturing date between October 1997 and December 2004; these Stork Craft cribs were first sold in the U.S. in July 1998 and in Canada in September 1998. This logo can be found on some Stork Craft crib's teething rail; in the manufacturer's instructions; on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board; and, for Twinkle-Twinkle and Crystal models, on the end panel.

§ "Storkcraft baby" or "Storkling" insignia: Inscribed on the drop side teething rail of some cribs.

§ Styles/Finishes: Various

§ Manufacture date, model number, crib name, country of origin, and firm information: On the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board.

§ Sold at: Major retailers in the U.S and Canada, such as BJ's Wholesale Club, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Meijer, Sears, USA Baby, and Wal-Mart stores; online at Amazon.com, Babiesrus.com, Costco.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com.

§ Availability: January 1993 - October 2009

§ Cost: $100 - $400.