More infant deaths, this time not from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), but rather, badly-designed cribs.

According to today's reports: "About 1 million Simplicity and Graco Inc (GGG) cribs are being recalled after three children became entrapped in their cribs and died of suffocation, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday. Two infants, a 6-month-old and a 9-month-old, died in the recalled cribs, which were sold through May 2007. A 1-year-old child died in a newer model of the cribs, which has not been recalled but is being investigated by the safety agency, CPSC officials said. In all three deaths, the consumer had installed the drop-rail side of the crib upside down, the CPSC said. This creates a gap in the crib that children can slide into and suffocate. Seven other infants have been entrapped in the cribs, according to the CPSC. There have been 55 reports of the cribs' drop sides detaching or the hardware failing to hold the side to the crib."

How does this happen? Why does this happen? The companies in question are not novices. Guess what...Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa., is listed as manufacturer of all the cribs, which were made in China. I think this is another example of an American company losing control of the process and forgetting that our product safety standards are not universal and that developing countries with rapidly expanding industrialization just don't get it.

The beauty of the Internet is that news and events can circulate globally in a matter of minutes. The bad news about the Internet is news and events can circulate globally in a matter of minutes. Just ask Crocs (NASDAQ: CROX) about the latter statement. The stock has suffered over an Associated Press article that is frankly -- a crock.

The gist of the AP article was that Crocs harmed a few children on escalators. As a father of five and a grandfather of two, I get kids. I also get kids' accidents. I have spent my fair share of time in emergency rooms with sports-related and household type injuries with my children! The AP article strongly suggested that the Crocs shoes worn by little children was the cause of their unfortunate accidents by catching their toes or feet in the teeth of the escalator. Some have required medical attention including suturing wounds or a broken foot.

To outright blame the Crocs shoes for these accidents is both unfair and pretty easy to do. It certainly has caught the attention of the concerned parents of the world and will cause some to rethink a possible purchase. Everyday life carries risks and of course, as parents, we strive to minimize those risks. If not Crocs shoes, then whose shoes are absolutely, guaranteed safe and escalator proof? None.