Children’s product manufacturer Kolcraft recalled about 51,000 inclined sleeper accessories sold with two of their bassinets for suffocation hazards. According to Consumer Reports, the company recalled the accessories sold with the Cuddle ‘n Care 2-in-1 Bassinet and Incline Sleepers and the Preferred Position 2-in-1 Bassinet and Incline Sleepers. The recall was prompted by the fact that infants have died in similar products made by other manufacturers, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said.
There were no reported incidents or injuries associated with these specific products sold nationwide at various children’s product retailers from March 2011 through December 2017. CPSC is warning that consumers immediately stop using the inclined sleeper accessories, which are sold as inserts for the bassinets, because they pose a heightened risk for infant suffocation. CPSC says consumers may continue to use the bassinets without the inclined sleeper accessories. Consumers are urged to contact Kolcraft at 1-800-453-7673 or via email at [email protected] for a $20 refund or a $35 voucher to be used at the company’s website.
Injuries and Fatalities Reported
This is the ninth recent recall involving infant-inclined sleepers announced since a Consumer Reports investigation that began in April 2019, which uncovered dozens of child deaths linked to these dangerous and defective products. That ongoing investigation led to the recall of 4.7 million Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleepers and similar inclined products made by Kids II, Dorel, Evenflo, Graco, Sumr Brands and other manufacturers. So far, about 5.6 million infant-inclined sleepers have been recalled over the last 10 months. To date, infant-inclined sleep products have been linked to at least 73 reported infant fatalities and more than 1,000 incidents, including serious injuries.
Need for Meaningful Laws
In September, the House of Representatives passed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, which would ban the manufacture and sale of inclined sleepers and padded crib bumpers. The Senate still needs to vote on this legislation. In October, the CPSC cautioned consumers not to use any infant-inclined sleep products and proposed banning all such products from the market. The proposed legislation has yet to be implemented. But, meanwhile, large retailers and online stores such as Amazon, eBay, Wal-Mart and Buy Buy Baby vowed to pull all infant inclined sleepers, even those that have not been recalled, from their stores and online marketplaces.
If you have an inclined infant sleeper or similar accessory at home, please stop using it immediately. If these or other defective products have injured your child, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced product defect lawyer to obtain more information about protecting your legal rights.
Source: https://www.consumerreports.org/child-safety/kolcraft-recalls-infant-inclined-sleeper-accessories/
