WASHINGTON - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with C&T Intl/Sorelle, announced a voluntary recall approximately 170,000 drop-side cribs due to potential strangulation and suffocation hazards.

C&T/Sorelle, based in Rutherford, NJ, imported the cribs from various manufacturers based in Italy, Latvia, Brazil, China and Vietnam. Prior to 2003, C&T/Sorelle also distributed cribs under the name Golden Baby Inc.

According to CPSC, the cribs’ drop-side hardware can disengage from the tracks, causing the drop side to detach from the crib. When the drop-side partially detaches, it creates space between the drop side and the crib mattress. The bodies of infants and toddlers can become entrapped in the space, which can lead to strangulation and/or suffocation. Complete detachment of the drop sides can lead to falls from the crib.

In addition, slats can detach from the sides of the cribs. Infants and toddlers can then become entrapped, strangle or fall out of the crib.

CPSC and C&T/Sorelle have received reports of 104 incidents of drop-side and slat detachments in C&T/Sorelle drop-side cribs. Six infants received bruises and abrasions to the head, face, torso or leg from becoming entrapped or falling after the drop side collapsed. An additional five infants who were entrapped or fell were found by their parents and were not injured.

Read CPSC news release.