Child Safety Blog

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commision has issued a warning against the popular "close-sleeper/bedside-sleeper" bassinets made by Simplicity Inc., after two babies were trapped and strangled to death by the bassinet's metal bars.

According to the article, these are the most popular bassinets in the country. The Commission says that the spacing of the metal bars is what makes the bassinets dangerous:

It said the two bassinets contain metal bars spaced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, the maximum distance allowed under federal crib safety standards. Federal regulations make such standards voluntary for bassinets.

The article notes that those who bought the bassinets from Target can return them for a refund, and that anyone with questions about them can call the Commission's hotline at 800-638-2772. It would be advisable to avoid not only these bassinets but also others with similarly spaced metal bars.