"Badger" Bassinet
CPSC Recall #86-044 - July 21, 1986
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 86-044 |
| Recall Date | July 21, 1986 |
| Remedy Type | New Instructions |
| Units Affected | An estimated 500,000 |
Product
"Badger" Bassinet
Description
Washington, DC -- In cooperation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Badger Basket Company of Edgar, Wisconsin, announced a voluntary repair program for certain bassinets produced prior to 1982, due to the possible collapse of their leg braces. Bassinets produced after 1982 incorporate a leg brace of another design and are not affected.The Commission and Badger have investigated 7 instances in which the braces connecting the foldable legs to the bassinet collapsed. The Commission believes that serious injury can occur to an infant resting in the bassinet, if the leg brace were to collapse.The bassinets are wicker in style and the mattress pads may contain the name Badger Basket on the tag which says "Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Law". Only those bassinets produced and sold prior to 1982 are affected. Satisfactory design changes were implemented by the firm in 1982. Additionally, production after 1983 contains a date code (indicating the month, day, and year of production) on the bottom of the bassinets which clearly distinguish the new-style leg brace from the old (See drawings below).An estimated 500,000 bassinets may have been produced from 1958 to 1982. While the staff does not believe all pose a risk injury, depending upon the amount of the use, the potential may exist for a leg brace failure.Owners of the Badger Bassinets are urged to take the following action:During use of the bassinet, ensure that leg braces are locked in the open position. Periodically check the leg braces especially if the bassinet has not been used for a time and has been folded up in storage.Consumers who own Badger Bassinets produced prior to 1982 should contact the Company for a free repair kit. To obtain the free locking rings and instructions for installation, owners should send the tag that reads "Under Penalty of Law This Tag Is Not To Be Removed Except By The Consumer" from the mattress pad identifying Badger Basket with their name and address to Badger Basket Company, Edgar, Wisconsin 54426. If the Law Tag has been removed, contact the firm for a drawing of affected leg braces to assist you in the identification of leg braces which should be repaired.SOME BADGER BASSINETS MAY NEED REPAIR KITS. Badger bassinets produced before 1982 may collapse due to failure of the leg brace, so the firm is providing looking rings to correct the problem. Consumers should remove the mattress label "Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Law," and send to Badger Basket Company, Eager, Wisconsin 54426, together with name and address for free repair kit. Bassinets produced after 1982 do not have the problem, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.Under laws administered by CPSC, an estimated 325 million potentially hazardous products have been called back from the marketplace and consumers since 1937 (when CPSC was created). Most of these were voluntarily recalled by manufacturers who established programs to repair or replace the products, or to refund the purchase price.
Hazard
The bassinets are being recalled due to the possible collapse of their leg braces.The Commission believes that serious injury can occur to an infant resting in the bassinet, if the leg brace were to collapse.
Incidents & Injuries
The Commission and Badger have investigated 7 instances in which the braces connecting the foldable legs to the bassinet collapsed.
Remedy Instructions
During use of the bassinet, ensure that leg braces are locked in the open position. Periodically check the leg braces especially if the bassinet has not been used for a time and has been folded up in storage.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a New Instructions at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (New Instructions) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.