Simplicity Convertible Bassinet Sleepers unsafe
Categories: Newborns, Babies, Health & safety, In the news, Baby essentials, Sleep, Shopping & recalls
This product recall is a little different than others in that it isn't actually a product recall. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible "close-sleeper/bedside sleeper" bassinets do not meet the safety standards regarding spacing of the metal bars and pose an entrapment and strangulation hazard to infants. The products would be recalled, but SFCA Inc., the company which purchased all of Simplicity, Inc.'s assets at public auction in April, 2008, refuses to recall them. SFCA claims they are not responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity.
Clearly somebody needs to be responsible for the products because according to the CPSC, two infants have already strangled to death between the bassinet's metal bars - a 5-month old girl earlier this month and a 4-month-old girl in September of 2007. Since SFCA won't recall them, the CPSC is issuing a warning and urging all consumers to share this warning with day care centers, consignment stores, family and friends to ensure no more children are injured or killed sleeping in this bassinet.
The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets have metal bars spaced farther apart than the 2 3/8 inches maximum allowed by federal crib safety standards. The metal bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by Velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the Velcro is not properly re-secured when the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrapped in the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar.
Clearly somebody needs to be responsible for the products because according to the CPSC, two infants have already strangled to death between the bassinet's metal bars - a 5-month old girl earlier this month and a 4-month-old girl in September of 2007. Since SFCA won't recall them, the CPSC is issuing a warning and urging all consumers to share this warning with day care centers, consignment stores, family and friends to ensure no more children are injured or killed sleeping in this bassinet.
The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets have metal bars spaced farther apart than the 2 3/8 inches maximum allowed by federal crib safety standards. The metal bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by Velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the Velcro is not properly re-secured when the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrapped in the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
AA 9-25-2008 @ 11:35PM
My wife just today found out about this recall regarding the bassinet that my son sleeps in. We never had the bar lowered to the position in question, but will be contacting Babies r us asap. I may have forgotten to register the product, but what really has me upset is that this item was purchased off my wife's baby registry from Babies R US. You would think that they would have notified all parents about this recall. Even months later, I was able to log onto my wife's registry page and sure enough, her info and what was bought is readily available. If I can do, Babies R US should be able to do the same.
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Samia 9-26-2008 @ 11:47AM
I received the simplicity bassinet December 10,2007 as a gift when my second daughter was born. When she was 1 month I woke up in the middle of the night to her complaining what I saw was her head face down (she was a tummy sleeper at the time) in between the wall of the bassinet and the mattress pad! It scared me so much I ended up getting a larger mattress pad and making sure it was tightly secured and I never used the the lowering bars on the bassinet. Thank God my little baby was making enough noise for me to hear and protect her. This bassinet should be RECALLED!!!
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