B.C. crib company issues massive recall over suffocation hazard

Vancouver-based manufacturer Stork Craft is voluntarily recalling more than a million baby cribs in Canada and the United States over a potential suffocation hazard.

The cribs were manufactured in Canada, China and Indonesia between May 2000 and November 2008, the company said in a release.

About 494,000 of the cribs were sold in Canada and 535,000 in the U.S. in several retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kmart and J.C. Penny, as well as on several websites, including Amazon.com, Babiesrus.com, Costco.com and Walmart.com, the U.S.Consumer Product Safety Commission said in an advisory Tuesday.

The crib's metal support brackets used to support the mattress and mattress board can crack and break, the advisory said.

"When one or more support brackets break, the mattress can collapse and create a dangerous gap between the mattress and crib rails, in which a child can become entrapped and suffocate," it said.

The CPSC said it is aware of 10 incidents in which one or more mattress support brackets broke, including one instance in which a toddler sustained bruises to his forehead.

Stork Craft said it recently made a design change to heavier brackets, while replacement bracket kits are available to consumers at no charge.

Consumers can call the company toll-free at (866) 361-3321 or go to www.storkcraft.com to order the free replacement kit.