Federal agency warns parents to stop using popular bassinet

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning parents and caregivers to immediately stop using a popular brand of bassinet after the death of a second baby attributed to the product.

The warning covers the Simplicity 3-in-1 and Simplicity 4-in-1 bassinets. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., one of the largest distributors of the product, said Thursday it is pulling the bassinets off of its shelves and its Web site.

CPSC spokeswoman Julie Vallese said Thursday the danger is so severe that the agency was compelled to issue the warning late Wednesday ahead of a likely recall.

Last week, a 6-month-old Shawnee, Kan., girl was strangled after trying to slip through the metal tubes that run down the side of the bassinet. Police say her body fit through the tubes, but her head could not. In September 2007, a 4-month-old Pineville, Mo., girl died after being caught between the rail of her Simplicity 4-in-1 bassinet and the mattress.

The CPSC says the “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper” bassinets have metal bars spaced farther apart than the maximum 23‚Ñ8 inches allowed under federal crib safety standards. The bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap that is attached by Velcro, which can fall if not properly attached and allow an infant to slide between the bars.

Simplicity recalled about 1 million cribs on Sept. 21, 2007, after reports of three deaths and seven babies who had become trapped. Vallese said the recall put Simplicity out of business, and its assets were purchased by SFCA Inc. in April.