Delta Enterprises is voluntarily recalling nearly 1.6 million older versions of its drop-side cribs after two infant deaths.

Both infants suffocated in their cribs.

Missing or broken safety pegs, which were blamed in one death, were installed in 985,000 of the drop-side cribs can pose an entrapment and suffocation risk to infants and toddlers, while a defective spring peg in an additional 600,000 drop-side cribs can also cause an entrapment and suffocation risk.

When the safety pegs are missing from the lower track at the base of each leg of the crib, the crib locks can disengage and detach if lowered below the peg hole and create a hazardous gap.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is also aware of two entrapments and nine disengagement incidents in cribs in which the safety pegs were missing.

The recalled cribs were manufactured in either Taiwan or Indonesia and were built with the "Crib Trigger Lock with Safety Peg" drop-side hardware design. Model numbers and country of origin can be located on the mattress support board.

The cribs were sold at major retailers, including Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target.com, from January 1995 through September 2007 for about $100. These cribs have also been found to be sold secondhand.

The CPSC and Delta urged parents and caregivers to immediately stop using cribs that are missing a safety peg on any leg of the crib and to contact Delta to receive a free, easy-to-install repair kit. Consumers with cribs that have all safety pegs installed may continue to use the cribs; however, the CPSC recommends that these consumers contact Delta for the repair kit for future assembly purposes.

The kit includes bold-colored safety pegs and warning labels to be affixed to the mattress board. Kits can be obtained by calling Delta toll-free at 800-816-5304 or by logging on to www.cribrecallcenter.com to order the free replacement kit.

Spring Peg Failure Recall

Dysfunctional spring pegs -- blamed in the second death -- can become nonfunctional. This can cause the drop side to detach from the crib and create a gap that can entrap an infant or toddler.

The CPSC is also aware of one child entrapment and one incident in which the drop side detached due to a disengaged spring peg.

This recall involves all Delta drop-side cribs manufactured prior to 2006 that use "Crib Trigger Lock with Spring Peg" drop side hardware design.

The recalled cribs have Delta's name and address on the mattress support boards and Delta's logo on the tether rail. The model number and manufacture dates are located on top of the mattress support board.

The cribs were made in China and were sold at major retailers nationwide from January 2000 through January 2007 for between $33 and $200.

CPSC and Delta urge parents and caregivers to immediately stop using these cribs and contact Delta to receive a free, easy-to-install repair kit. Kits can be obtained by calling 800-816-5304 or by logging on to www.cribrecallcenter.com to order the free replacement kit.

Crib Safety Tips

The CPSC urges both parents and caregivers to closely inspect the hardware and stability of their cribs to ensure all parts are in place and secure.

Here are some safety tips for all cribs:

• Parents should not use any crib with missing, broken or loose parts.
• Hardware should be inspected from time to time and tightened to keep the crib sturdy.
• When using a drop-side crib, parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly.
• Always check all sides and corners of the crib for disengagement. Any disengagement can create a gap and entrap a child.
• Do not try to repair any side of the crib with additional hardware, tape, wire or rope.
• Putting a broken side up against the wall does not solve the problem and can often make it worse.

Since the creation of the CPSC Early Warning System in fall of 2007, the agency has conducted five crib recalls where the hardware was broken, missing or otherwise failed to function.

Cribs with drop sides are most likely to experience hardware problems due to the moving parts and non-rigid connections. Drop-side corners can disengage from the tracks located on the crib ends and safety stops may become nonfunctional, permitting the drop side to detach from the crib. These types of defects are often undetected by parents or caregivers and can worsen when the baby pushes or leans against the side of the crib.