Feds Renew Portable Crib Recall

The death of a Chicago child in a crib that was recalled five years ago prompted the federal government Thursday to urge a search for the cribs and a plea to stop using them immediately.

The portable crib, Playskool Travel-Lite, was manufactured by Kolcraft from 1990 through 1992 and the company has gone to considerable efforts to renew the recall efforts, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said. Kolcraft is offering a $60 refund to consumers for the return of the portable cribs.

The cribs have two nylon mesh sides and two solid plastic ends. "Playskool" appears in white letters on a red background on each end and the portable crib folds in the center for storage and handling. Stores across the country sold 11,600 of the products from 1990 through 1992.

Manufacturers of portable cribs and play yards are joining in the effort to warn consumers and child-care providers to stop using the more than 1.5 million portable cribs and play yards that have been recalled in past years. The top rails on the recalled products can collapse, entrapping children and suffocating them.

A dozen children have died from suffocation in collapsed play yards and portable cribs manufactured by various companies. Current products have top rails that automatically lock into place when they are set up.

"A death caused by a previously recalled product is a tragedy," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown, referring to the death of a child in Chicago last month. "We urge consumers to make an all-out effort to search their homes and day-care centers for these portable cribs and play yards and stop using them."

Other faulty products listed by the agency: Evenflo "Happy Camper," "Happy Cabana" and "Kiddie Camper" portable play yards sold between 1990 and 1997; Century "Fold-N-Go" Models 10-710 and 10-810 sold between 1993 and 1996; Draco "All Our Kids" Portable Cribs/Play Yards sold between 1992 and 1995; Baby Trend "Home and Roam" and "Baby Express" portable cribs/play pens manufactured before 1995.

Evenflo, Century and Baby Trend all offer repairs, while Draco products should be removed and destroyed because the firm is out of business, the commission said.

Owners of the Kolcraft cribs may call 1-800-453-7673 for information on a refund.

Consumers with questions about nursery equipment may call the Consumer Product Safety Commission hot line 800-638-2772.