Another Baby Dies in a Drop-Side Crib; Company Blames the Parents

Shortly after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced yet another crib recall following the death of a baby and dozens of other incidents, the crib manufacturer took the unusual step of issuing a statement absolving itself of responsibility.

Dorel Industries (parents might know them as Cosco, Eddie Bauer, Safety 1st and several other brands) has resumed its posture as one of the most recalcitrant child product manufacturers there is. While most manufacturers will work with the CPSC to resolve an issue, Dorel goes kicking and screaming. It was the way the company responded a decade ago when their toddler beds were blamed in the deaths of children and it's the way they are responding again today.

CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson said the commission had authorized the agency staff to take unilateral action to recall 20 different models of Dorel cribs due to problems with hardware, as well as slats that break. Such a vote is rare and it was under that pressure -- and the embarrassment of refusing to undertake a recall in the face of dozens of incidents and the death of a baby -- that Dorel announced the recall using the traditional language of "in cooperation with" the CPSC.%Poll-40282%