Warning: Infants Strangled to Death in Simplicity Bassinets
August 28, 2008
The CPSC is urging parents and caregivers to immediately stop using convertible “Close Sleeper and Bedside Sleeper” bassinets made by Simplicity, Inc., of Reading, PA after learning this month of the death of a five-month-old girl due to strangulation resulting from entrapment between the bassinet’s metal bars.
This is the second such death the CPSC has been informed of in regard to the Simplicity Co-Sleeper bassinets. Last year a four-month-old girl died after becoming entrapped in the metal bars of the same model bassinet.
SFCA, Inc. bought out all of Simplicity Inc.’s assets at a public auction this spring and, according to a statement released by the CPSC, has since refused to cooperate with the government by recalling these Simplicity bassinets. SFCA claims that they are not responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity, Inc.
About The Danger Posed by These Simplicity Bassinets
The Simplicity 3-In-1 and 4-In-1 convertible bassinets contain metal bars spaced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, which is the maximum distance allowed under federal crib safety guidelines. 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, infants may slip through the opening and get trapped in the metal bars. This poses a very serious and real danger of suffocation / strangulation.
The CPSC stated that this warning does not include cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar instead of using Velcro.
The CPSC is further urging parents, caregivers, day care centers and all consumers and concerned citizens to share this safety warning with each other and ensure that everyone knows about the danger of these Simplicity bassinets.
In a statement today, SFCA insisted the warning does not involve any product it manufactures or distributes. It noted that the CPSC said its warning does not include bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the bar – a feature SFCA says its bassinets include.
“All bassinets produced and sold by SFCA are produced in this manner, with fabric permanently attached over the lower bar, and meet or exceed ASTM standards and CPSC guidelines,” the company said.
Side Note: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted to release this public warning using its new authorities provided in the Consumer Product Safety improvement Act of 2008.
Also see Simplicity Crib Recalls from 2006 and 2007.
Were you affected? Click Here for a free case evaluation!
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8 Responses to “Warning: Infants Strangled to Death in Simplicity Bassinets”
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Shame on SFCA and even more shame onm the CPSC!
SFCA does not have ethics towards thier consumers! The least they can do is cooperate with the government and have a bit of social responsibility! Stop buying thier products!
Shame of CPSC. We count on them to protect consumers but they do not do their job thoroughly.
Both make me sick!
[...] D.C. – – THE U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC) IS AWARE THAT SOME BASSINETS IN THE SIMPLICITY RECALL ANNOUNCED AUGUST 28, 2008 INCLUDE THE GRACO LOGO AND “WINNIE THE POOH” MOTIF LICENSED BY DISNEY [...]
This is horrible. We ordered this bassinet off walmart.com and I ended up going to Walmart to return this bassinet because I was induced early so we had to get a different. I didn’t know it was recalled at that time, so I am very happy I returned it!
The lady at Walmart still had the audacity to ask why I was returning it! Why do you think?!
[...] play yards are portable and were wold with a bassinet, changing table and mobile features. They have rainforest themed fabric and artwork and bear the [...]
My mother and I both have this bassinet. I am about to have my third child and have tried everything to return these to the store. We no longer have the reciepts and none of the stores listed will make good on the recall. We have tried to call Simplicity and the number listed on their web sight and product are no good. I am very frustrated they make unsafe products for our babies and won’t even help to fix the problem. Anyideas? Please let me know.
Thanks!
I have been trying to return or exchange the recalled bassinet since the recall was announced. It was a gift from family members made trough my Walmart baby registry. All receipts were shredded and we have no order number and Walmart customer support is incompetent to help. SHAME ON WALMART! I’m not shopping there anymore!
I would actually like to buy one of these bassinets for my daughter to use with her dolls only. If you have one that you can not return may you can at least get a few bucks for it. Email me if you are interested in selling one. Thanks!
[...] BY SIMPLICITY INC., OF READING, PA. CPSC HAS LEARNED OF TWO ADDITIONAL INFANT DEATHS SINCE THE AUGUST 2008 SAFETY ALERT AND RECALL ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT NOTIFIED CONSUMERS OF TWO INFANTS WHO HAD STRANGLED IN THEIR SIMPLICITY BASSINETS. TO DATE, [...]