900,000 Bassinets Recalled Amid Safety Concerns
Retailers Working With Government On Recall
Updated: 10:35 pm CDT October 28, 2008
MADISON, Wis. -- In one of the largest child product recalls in history, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is issuing a safety alert about the Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible/close sleeper bassinets.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThe recall affects 900,000 of the bassinets with an older design flaw.Two babies, under the age of 6 months old, recently died after slipping between the mattress and side railing."It shouldn't have happened. My sister has asked the 'What if?' question a thousand times," said the aunt of one of the victims.WISC-TV's exclusive testing partnership with Consumer Reports found the new Simplicity bassinets have a different design to alleviate the safety hazard.The fabric is permanently attached to the lower metal bar in the frame. The fabric used to detach, creating a dangerous opening that would allow a baby to slip through and become trapped, strangle or suffocate."Bassinets are only covered by voluntary safety standards, and there are no safety standards to cover them at all when they're used in co-sleeping mode," said Consumer Reports Safety Expert Jamie Schaefer-Wilson.Retailers are working directly with the government to recall the co-sleeper bassinets.A complete list of the stores can be found on the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.The company that made the bassinets was recently purchased by SFCA. It is not cooperating with the recall effort.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThe recall affects 900,000 of the bassinets with an older design flaw.Two babies, under the age of 6 months old, recently died after slipping between the mattress and side railing."It shouldn't have happened. My sister has asked the 'What if?' question a thousand times," said the aunt of one of the victims.WISC-TV's exclusive testing partnership with Consumer Reports found the new Simplicity bassinets have a different design to alleviate the safety hazard.The fabric is permanently attached to the lower metal bar in the frame. The fabric used to detach, creating a dangerous opening that would allow a baby to slip through and become trapped, strangle or suffocate."Bassinets are only covered by voluntary safety standards, and there are no safety standards to cover them at all when they're used in co-sleeping mode," said Consumer Reports Safety Expert Jamie Schaefer-Wilson.Retailers are working directly with the government to recall the co-sleeper bassinets.A complete list of the stores can be found on the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.The company that made the bassinets was recently purchased by SFCA. It is not cooperating with the recall effort. Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
